TU/e notebook program - Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Context
“Eindhoven University of Technology is in pursuit of a more intensive use of modern
information and communication technology in its education, research, and activities in the
domain of social services. In the plans for the coming years explicit room will be created for
the development of matters like computer-supported education, e-learning and the use of new
media. Especially because TU/e students are known for their frequent use of the internet, the
TU/e will stimulate more applications of the internet in student facilities.”
Source: Compete and Collaborate, Strategic Blueprint of Eindhoven University of Technology, March 1997
This strategic statement was the beginning of what once was called the notebook project, and
what has become the current notebook program at the TU/e.
Although the notebook program now has reached its tenth anniversary, there has never been a
serious attempt taken to evaluate its results. Did the notebook program really bring what was
expected at first? Did any other benefits occur that were not thought of at that time?
Because there was no extended evaluation, it is necessary to quantify the results of the
notebook program which gives the opportunity to provide a well-founded answer to that
question. Within the scope of this research the focus will be on the financial aspects of that
question. Furthermore, research is conducted on the effects of the use of notebooks in the
education programs, and on the possible advantages for Eindhoven University of Technology
regarding competitive issues. Especially to have an indication regarding the latter aspect it is
necessary to perform a benchmark with other, comparable, organizations.
1.2 Objective of the research
The objective of this research is to come to a well-founded statement about the
appropriateness of a chosen method to evaluate an IT concept that is comparable to the
notebook program at Eindhoven University of Technology. The chosen evaluation method
will therefore be conducted on the notebook program.
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