Abstract:
The e- learning technology which is at growth stage in Sri Lanka is used in Software
Industry than in any other Industry in the country. Is e- learning more effective is a
question that is in the minds of anybody who wishes to switch to e- learning in the
Industry. It is also mandatory that trainers in all companies in every industry needs to
know approach that needs to be taken when training their staff through e- learning. In
above context the objectives of this research was to gain an insight of the trainees
perception of e- learning in the software industry in Sri Lanka and to find out whether
factors found important by the trainees were incorporated in the approaches used by
companies when designing e- learning systems. The findings of this research should help
the trainers to develop effective training programs through e -learning. In this research we
try to establish whether trainee perception of e- learning is more positive in Software
Industry in Sri Lanka or not. A questionnaire was used to find out the perception of elearning
from the learners in the software industry. Interviews were carried out to find
out whether the approaches used by four major software companies in Sri Lanka in
designing e- learning systems to train their staff considered the factors found important by
trainees in e- learning. The parameters along which to find out trainee perception of elearning
were found from the literature and these were categorized under the dimensions
of quality, cost and time. The study proved that the trainees by far had a positive
perception on e- learning. From the interviews it was evident that the Sri Lankan software
companies did not have a comprehensively planned approach to the design of the eleaining
systems and hence did not consider majority of factors that the trainees found
important in e- learning. Most companies have relied on groups of individuals to develop
the systems according to their visions and talents.
