The standard for develoment is the ADDIE Model- Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate.

However, the "best" methodology would require you to use each step to its highest potential with assistance from the "best" people for each area as your resources.

For instance...

Analysis Phase. The purpose of this phase is to determine the need. To do this, you need to identify:

• the problem you are creating this for (what problem are you solving for/trying to change? What are the key issues that prompt you to intervene?),
• the impact of your solution/product (what specific productivity issues do you see? How this this problem impact your consumer?), and
• what success looks like (how will you know when you are successful?)

This is basically the gap analysis.

Then, once you have these sorted, you will have to relate them to the target audience in a bit more detail by identifying the specific Target Audience(s) your product is intended for and how your solution/product will influence them.

For this, you will need to identify...

Target Audience. Who will use it specifically? This about positions, roles, responsibilities, basic demographics, etc.

Improvements. Where are they currently and where do you want them to be (be very specific)? If it's training you're creating, this could be their related knowledge, skills, and abilities (current KSAs and target KSAs). If it's a product you are developing, list what the target audience is doing currently (and inefficiently) compared to how they will be doing this through your improvement/solution.

This summarizes your task/needs analysis.

For the last part, design your plan for how you will get your audience to the desired outcome by creating categories. These will be your objectives.

Objectives. Objectives will act as waypoints for the journey. It is recommended to use SMART objectives here as that will provide the most detail. This is one of the most vital areas because it focuses your design phase, giving it targets to reach.

Measurement. Next, how will you measure success? Think about the tools you could use to measure phases of implementation and what that measurement looks like. How accurate/to what degree is considered successful? What timing is involved. (Side note, a good SMART objectives will already have this information).

Obstacles. And lastly, list any obstacles that could get in the way of your proposed solution. Your obstacles will generally fall under two main categories (the target audience and your development) with multiple subcategories. For the former, think about pre-requisite knowledge/skills the target must have and their accessibility to your solution. For the latter, think about your content/product development and what could inhibit you.

Once all of this is complete you are ready for the next phase- Design.

Sounds like a lot, right? But don't worry. With the right Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) involved to help you with the need and content, you can pretty much design anything in any field. I've personally created solutions for areas as varied as Ford, the Girl Scouts of America, Amazon, Fulton Financial, Mircale Ear, and other major institutions in education, corporate tax, manufacturing, fashion, and small business. Each one used this process; each one was successful.

If you have any questions or need some resources to help get you started, please don't hesitate to reach out.

-Shawn

Shawn R. Lowe, PhD

Instructional Technology