| Organizations face challenges in trying to compete and to continue to cope with new or improved requirements. One way to meet such challenges is to create new ways to train employees (Desai, Richards et al. 1999). Although much research has been conducted in training issues using different approaches, no previous research has studied how expert systems (ES) may be used as rich training mediums for complex tasks.; Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) is a methodology proposed by Walls et. al. (1992) to provide a structural approach to information systems design. ISDTs are prescriptive theories developed to provide solutions for special classes of information systems design problems (Markus, Majchrzak et al. 2002). The principles generated in an ISDT can be tested empirically. Markus et al. (2002) believe that an ISDT is a very important theoretical contribution and it provides guidance to developers and sets issues for academic research.; One goal of ISDT is the creation of artifacts. Artifact creation relies on existing kernel theories that are applied, tested, modified, and extended through experience, creativity, intuition, and problem solving capabilities of the researcher (Walls, Widmeyer et al. 1992; Markus, Majchrzak et al. 2002; Hevner, March et al. 2004).; The present study was conducted using a three-step process. The first step is the development of an ISDT, the second step is the development of software training tools, and the third step is testing training tools in a laboratory quasi-experiment. An Expert System (EST) and an Information System (IST) were developed as software training tools. Both were based on the ISDT, but IST did not include all of the design theory characteristics. In order to evaluate which training system (if any) delivers better training, a three-group design was used. One group was trained using the EST, a second group was trained with the IST, and the third group was trained with traditional means. Training outcomes were evaluated using ANOVA and showed that trainees who used EST had better training outcomes. The results provide a "Phase II" validation (Walls et al. 1992) of the ISDT for EST. |
