Electronic Performance Support Systems

A computer-based system that improves worker productivity by providing on-the-job access to integrated information, advice, and learning experiences.
An electronic performance support system can also be described as any computer software program or component that improves employee performance by
reducing the complexity or number of steps required to perform a task,
providing the performance information an employee needs to perform a task, or
providing a decision support system that enables an employee to identify the action that is appropriate for a particular set of conditions.
Electronic Performance Support Systems can help an organization to reduce the cost of training staff while increasing productivity and performance. It can empower an employee to perform tasks with a minimum amount of external intervention or training. By using this type of system an employee, especially a new employee, will not only be able to complete their work more quickly and accurately, but as a secondary benefit they will also learn more about their job and their employer's business.
However, an EPSS must be distinguished from a traditional online help system. In her book, Glory Gery points out that on-line help usually supports a single software application and is not necessarily focused on the entire range of job tasks (which may involve multiple applications), but just that specific software. With online help, cross-referencing is often not available and the information provided is limited and rarely combined with procedures or complex tasks. Perhaps most critically, on-line help can not be customized to the user or the job task; in fact, the same software screen may require different inputs depending on the user and job task.