Abstract
Learning how to use distributed business systems requires expensive and sustained training efforts, and this study addresses the need for sustainable and effective training solutions, and an approach to nurture local users to become mentor for colleagues has been developed as an alternative to training courses. The objective of the study was to find the sufficient training and support to cultivate mentors, how e-learning courses should be designed considering areas with poor Internet connectivity and how contents of such an e-learning course should be structured. Our empirical fieldwork was conducted in two cycles, exploration and evaluation cycle, and the study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Through an in-app solution in District Health Information System 2 (DHIS 2), e-learning courses can train users. Since the system can go offline without losing data, and training is set in a country with poor Internet connectivity, an e-learning app within the system is a good solution so there is no loss of data or disruptions during training. A basic user level plus a mentor level distance e-learning course were evaluated amongst users of DHIS 2 in Malawi. The user level course was adequate for users with some computer fluency, while IT novices required a mentor present. The mentor level course required the mentors to have higher system competence than most of the relevant users had. An advanced level course between the user and the mentor level is suggested, in addition to including more practical and cooperative, reflective components in the mentor course. With such amendments, distance e-learning courses can replace most face-to-face training courses and training of trainers approaches for implementation of information systems.