Abstract
This paper draws upon contingency theory to support a flexible eclectic approach to staff development in distance education. The approach utilizes the Concerns‐Based Adoption Model focussed towards developing instructional design skills in academic staff. Strategies are described for lecturers in each of the seven stages of concern. For the staff development procedures to be effective, it is argued that study materials development should take place within an infrastructure which involves the writer(s) and an instructional designer in a team. Perhaps, the main message of the paper is merely that flexible eclecticism is a desirable approach to staff development — and contingency theory offers that concept — and staff developers need to be mindful of differing staff attitudes — some of which are identified by CBAM.