{"id":5866,"date":"2010-06-02T18:22:55","date_gmt":"2010-06-02T22:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/danielschristian.com\/learning-ecosystems\/?p=5866"},"modified":"2010-06-02T18:26:04","modified_gmt":"2010-06-02T22:26:04","slug":"the-transformation-of-textbook-publishing-in-the-digital-age-%e2%80%94-new-business-models-from-xplana-by-rob-reynolds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/danielschristian.com\/learning-ecosystems\/2010\/06\/02\/the-transformation-of-textbook-publishing-in-the-digital-age-%e2%80%94-new-business-models-from-xplana-by-rob-reynolds\/","title":{"rendered":"The transformation of textbook publishing in the Digital Age \u2014 new business models — from Xplana by Rob Reynolds"},"content":{"rendered":"

The transformation of textbook publishing in the Digital Age \u2014 new business models<\/a> <\/strong>— from Xplana by Rob Reynolds<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong>
\nIn April, we published a report on Digital Textbook Sales in U.S. Higher Education<\/a>, in which we outlined sales for e-textbooks over the next five years based on current trends and variables. This series \u2014 The Transformation of Textbook Publishing in the Digital Age \u2014 provides an in-depth look at textbook publishing in Higher Education, and offers a roadmap for evolution and profitability in the industry. In this first installment, we will discuss New Business Models. In subsequent installments, we will explore New Product Models, New Authoring Models, and New Production Workflows.<\/p>\n

My goal with this series is neither to extol nor criticize the textbook industry, but rather to provide an understanding of the business as it exists today, and to offer a digital success strategy for the companies that comprise that industry. By doing so, I hope to lay the groundwork for our subsequent summer series on The Transformation of Learning Systems, and The Transformation of Learning Content.<\/p>\n

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Strategies for New Business Models for a Digital Age<\/strong><\/p>\n

The majority of this post has been about existing practices and product\/business models in the textbook publishing world. These practices and models are based on a print-centric paradigm that will be outdated within three years, and are also the result of old assumptions about Higher Education and learning in general.<\/p>\n

While the path to digital transformation will be unique for the different publishing companies, there are some constants that will be part of any successful plan for Higher Education learning content in the coming years. The surface chatter will continue to be about e-textbooks \u2014 reaching 18%-20% of the new textbook market by 2014 \u2014 but the strategies that drive success will all take the following elements into consideration.<\/p>\n