Commercial office work is characterised by complex problems because simple routine tasks are often automated or outsourced. The aim, therefore, is for trainee commercial clerks to address complex problem scenarios whilst they are still in training.

The PSA-Sim project follows on from the ASCOT projects DomPL­IK and CoBALIT by developing an office simulation which fosters the problem-solving competence of trainees in the occupations of industrial clerk and office management clerk and records their trouble-shooting performances. To this end, authentic problem scenarios are developed for processing within the office simulation. Teaching and training staff are also able to add further scenarios. Comprehensive training measures for practitioners are being developed and implemented.

The software deployed makes use of several innovative technologies. (Partly) automated procedures for the evaluation of written responses are being put in place in order to be able to efficiently assess the test results of large groups of participants. The software also analyses the problem-solving competence of learners in real time and uses these log data analyses as a basis for providing individualised support.

The aim is to use a large sample of trainees to investigate how competencies develop over the course of training and the factors which influence this.