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August 14, 1997 |
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Users' Evaluations of Packages: Demonstrations Versus Hands-On Use
Kieran Mathieson, Department of Decision and Information Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309-4401,
Email: mathieso@oakland.edu
Terence Ryan, Division of Business and Economics, Indiana University, South Bend 1700 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN 46634,
Email: tryan@iusb.edu |
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ABSTRACT |
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Users have an important role in evaluating the fit between their tasks
and software packages. Users' time is not free, however, and should be
used carefully. An experiment compared different types of experience with
an information system: direct (such as hands-on testing) and indirect (such
as watching a demonstration). Both allowed subjects to distinguish good
systems from poor systems. However, direct experience resulted in more
extreme beliefs. This suggests that inexpensive demonstrations should be
used initially, since they can help users discriminate between packages.
Hands-on testing, though more expensive, can be used when demonstrations
do not yield a clear preference.
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