MUMBAI, India, December 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), a leader in innovative learning, won a coveted Brandon Hall gold award for excellence in the Best Custom Content category. A total of 248 entries were originally submitted and were evaluated by independent judges around the world.

Tata Interactive Systems' win was announced on Thursday, November 19 in an online ceremony. The winners are listed at http://www.brandon-hall.com.

The award-winning project, developed by TIS for TELUS, was a simulation-based learning program to provide training to TELUS' sales teams on selling data devices. It involved using conversation based case studies of sales people. The design incorporates a complex decision- tree-based conversation engine wrapped inside appealing visual and effective instructional templates.

The structure of this pilot program was adopted to develop similar training interventions for multiple products and services at TELUS.

The days of one BlackBerry, for business clients only, are over. We developed the Data Devices e-simulation with Tata Interactive Systems to let our learners play at questioning their clients and developing a terrific solution from the wide variety of Smartphones in our portfolio. The online format, with built-in coaching and 'choose your own adventure' scripting, gives the learner a safe environment to try things out, learn from their mistakes, and build a confident sales approach. It's a great tool! commends Matthew Brown, Manager - E-learning, TELUS Continuous Learning.

According to Rupesh Goel, Head - Simulations at Tata Interactive Systems, This award is vindication of TIS' faith in simulation-based learning and in reaffirming that we are one of the few organizations globally that excel in this space. That the simulation solution worked for the learners was evident from the feedback we received from TELUS. In fact, the same framework was extended to develop an entire line of simulations for training on their various products and services. I'd like to congratulate the development team who along with their TELUS counterparts pushed the envelope in learning design via new visual formats, effective instructional approach, and robust modeling tools to create this innovative product.

The Brandon Hall Excellence in Learning Awards are presented annually by Brandon Hall Research, one of the leading research firms in training and development. Now in its fifteenth year, the Awards program showcases exceptional work in the use of learning technology.

The quality of these winning entries is outstanding, said Brandon Hall, Ph.D., chairman of the Awards program. These winners are breaking new ground and setting new standards for innovative learning.

(c) 2009 Tata Interactive Systems

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About Tata Interactive Systems (TIS)

Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) is the world's leading developer of learning solutions - with a team of over 600 multi-disciplinary specialists, TIS creates 3000+ hours of learning content across 160+ concurrent projects every year.

Backed by an unmatched 19 years' experience, TIS develops unique and innovative learning solutions that are designed to enable clients achieve their organizational goals. Whether it is performance and productivity gains, streamlining operations and financials, developing leadership and decision-making skills, enabling smooth product development, reducing time to market, boosting employee motivation, or any other corporate or learning initiative - TIS' solutions have proven their effectiveness at more than 60 Fortune 500 companies, leading educational institutions and government departments worldwide.

TIS' clients include Barclays Bank; Citibank; HSBC; Aon; London Stock Exchange; BP-Amoco; ExxonMobil; DoDEA; the Indian Navy; United Nations; Hewlett Packard; British Telecom; Motorola; Siemens; Vodafone; GE; Tata Motors; Tata Steel; GlaxoSmithKline; Harcourt Achieve; McGraw-Hill; Pearson Education; Colgate-Palmolive; Unilever; American Airlines; British Airways; Emirates; Qantas; the Royal Mail Group; the Boston University; the University of Phoenix and the Florida Virtual School.

TIS is the only learning solutions organization in the world to be assessed at Level 5 in both the SEI-CMM and P-CMM frameworks. Its solutions have won widespread industry recognition with prestigious awards including Performance Centered Design, ASTD, IT Training, Brandon Hall, APEX, BETT, BIMA, SIIA Codie, FICCI BAF and Business World-NID awards.

TIS caters for three segments - Corporate, Education, and Government. It offers its clients innovative learning solutions including:

- Web-based Training Courseware - to help achieve learning goals - Simulations - to offer immersive learning experiences - Electronic Performance Support Systems - to provide on-the-job support - Software Solutions - to leverage technology in learning - Game-based Learning - to enhance learner engagement

The scope of TIS' learning solutions encompasses on-boarding, sales training, process training, product training, curriculum design, assessments, soft skills training, and technical training, among others. TIS has extensive experience across diverse industry domains including pharmaceuticals and healthcare; banking, finance, and insurance; IT; communications and telecom; publishing; virtual and online schools and universities; transportation; government and defense; and not-for-profit organizations.

TIS has development centers in Germany, Switzerland, and India. Its sales and marketing operations span the US, Canada, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Asia.

For more information log on to http://www.tatainteractive.com

About Brandon Hall Research

Brandon Hall, Ph.D. is the CEO of Brandon Hall Research and author of the ground-breaking Web-Based Training Cookbook. Since 1992, Brandon Hall Research (http://www.brandon-hall.com) has been providing independent research reports and expert advice on using technology in learning. Brandon Hall Research conducts the Awards program each year to recognize the best in innovative learning.

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Tata Interactive Systems 4th Floor Leela Business Park, Andheri East, Mumbai 400 059, INDIA Rajesh Jumani rajeshj@tatainteractive.com Tel: +1-91-22-6643-8000; Fax: +1-91-22-6643-8800; Web: http://www.tatainteractive.com

SOURCE: Tata Interactive Systems

CONTACT: Tata Interactive Systems, 4th Floor Leela Business Park, AndheriEast, Mumbai 400 059, INDIA, Rajesh Jumani, rajeshj@tatainteractive.com,Tel: +1-91-22-6643-8000; Fax: +1-91-22-6643-8800; Web:http://www.tatainteractive.com