Analyze and Empathize

A statement of work (SOW) is a document to keep a project aligned with both the ID and client’s expectations. A SOW should be developed by a project manager or ID to establish the scope of the project. This ensures that the client knows what will be and what will not be within the project scope. With this agreement in place, the ID team is not expected to work on those areas outside of the established scope. Additionally, this document is utilized to establish important specifications of the project, which could include: project deliverables and deadlines, expectations for both the ID team and client, identification of the key stakeholders, and identification of any risks (Brown & Mason, 2006). It is important that this document is agreed upon and approved by all members of the ID team and the client.

A  training requirements analysis (TRA) helps the ID define what training or guidance is necessary to meet performance requirements. Conducting a TRA will also help the ID identify the most effective and suitable training configuration, to close the gaps in guidance, skills, or motivation (OPWL Instructors, 2020).

When developing a TRA the ID should consider including these three elements from the Instructional Design Course Handbook (2020) in their analysis:

• A performance gap  statement to specify the desired and actual performance.

• Reasoning behind why the gap is worth closing and how the organization, along with staff, will benefit from closing the gap.

• The training configurations, which may include the use of job aids, training, a combination of both, or potentially neither, to address the causes of the organization’s performance gap.

A task analysis should be used to outline job tasks or duties. Through this analysis, the ID can identify each task a performer executes to achieve the desired outcome. Therefore, the primary data source should be shadowing or interviewing subject matter experts, and additional client-approved data.

The ID can also utilize the task analysis to determine the level of difficulty of each task, the frequency of how often it is executed, and if the task is critical or not (Rothwell, Benscoter, King, & King, 2016). This will help the ID throughout the design phase as they develop objectives, curriculum, and/or training job aids.

Unlike the TRA and TA, a learner analysis (LA) is primarily conducted to help the ID gain a better understanding of their learners. The ID can utilize data collection methods such as surveys, interviews, and observations to understand more about their learners. Although this may seem like a minor analysis, the LA can help the ID develop a learner profile, enabling the ID to make data-driven decisions in curriculum development, improving the ID’s ability to develop customized training to meet the needs of the learner.