Workflow for Action Mapping Teams

Team workflow for action mapping 9 August 2017

What this document does: The table on the next page helps a team see how to use action mapping in a training design project. It can especially help people do the following: See at a glance what their responsibilities are and when they'll be required Shift their focus from providing information to changing behavior Use an agile approach based on prototyping and outlines

Who's involved: Instructional designer: Determines learning strategy, writes content, and oversees production of the final materials or produces them. Client: The person who asked for the project SME: Subject matter expert; someone who currently does or recently did the job and knows it well

Who should use it: The instructional designer (ID) should be in charge of the table and edit it as necessary for each project. If you have a separate project manager, then they should be in charge of the table.

How to use it: 1. Edit the table as necessary before the project kickoff meeting,* adding names and any dates that you already have. 2. During the meeting, briefly run through the table, helping people see what they'll do. 3. Point out the differences between this approach and the one that people are used to. For example, if the SME has been responsible for writing content in the past, point out that they no longer need to do that. Instead, you'll just interview them and ask for their feedback on materials.

* The project kickoff meeting is the first meeting that you have with the client and subject matter expert(s). The goals are to: Write the project goal: Identify the performance problem and how you'll measure its improvement Set expectations: Help the client and SME see the value of analyzing the problem to identify the best solutions -- you're not just turning content into training Start the analysis, if there's time (note what people need to do and why they aren't doing it)

Tools The "result" column refers to the following tools. Not all of them are developed yet. Goal template: See it in this blog post (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2013/11/how-to-create-a- training-goal-in-2-quick-steps/) Problem analysis flowchart: Download it from this page (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2013/05/is- training-really-the-answer-ask-the-flowchart/) Action map: You can use a whiteboard, a mind mapping tool (I use MindManager), sticky notes on a wall... See an overview here (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/action-mapping-a-visual-approach-to- training-design/) Activity planner: In development Project outline template: In development

When the tools are available, I'll be sure to announce them in the blog at cathy-moore.com.

Does your project include elearning? If you're working with an external developer who's used to designing presentations with memory checks, you might also use the "Checklist for Strong Elearning," which you can download from this post (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/2011/07/checklist-for-strong-elearning/).

Do you have ideas for making this table more useful? I'd love to hear them (http://blog.cathy-moore.com/contact-cathy-moore/).

From Cathy Moore: www.cathy-moore.com Team workflow for action mapping

# Date Task ID SME Client Users Result 1 Write the business goal of the project ("Widget sales will Goal statement increase 5%...") Tool: goal template 2 List specific things that ? ? Prioritized list of behaviors people need to do on the job Tool: action map to reach the goal 3 For each high-priority ? ? Notes about problems behavior: Why aren't people Tools: problem analysis flowchart, doing it? What makes it hard? action map 4 Note the best solution for ? ? Notes about solutions each problem Tools: problem analysis flowchart, action map STOP Is training really part of the solution? If yes, continue. If not, skip to step 9. 5 Brainstorm activity ideas for ? Notes (not scripts) for training behaviors that can be activities and supporting info improved with training Tool: action map 6 Write and prototype a typical Script and working mockup of activity one activity Tool: activity planner 7 Review and refine prototype Additional drafts of the prototype

8 Approve prototype Prototype activity that shows how activities will work

OUTLINE ALL SOLUTIONS

9 Outline the project: describe High-level outline of all all solutions, training & non- solutions (not a script) training Tool: project outline template 10 Approve the outline Approved outline of the project 11 Begin to implement non- ? ? Non-training solutions begin to training solutions and be implemented in the prepare managers workplace

PRODUCE ACTIVITIES If no training is necessary, skip to 19

12 Produce the activity that was One activity produced using the prototyped style or technique described in the outline 13 Approve the produced activity Approved activity that models the look and feel

From Cathy Moore: www.cathy-moore.com # Date Task ID SME Client Users Result 14 For the behaviors in step 2, Full scripts for a few activities write a small batch of Tool: activity planner activities (maybe 3-4) 15 Approve the activity scripts Approved batch of scripts

16 Produce the batch of Batch of activities produced activities using the look and feel previously approved 17 Approve the produced batch Batch of activities ready to be used by learners

Repeat the writing and production of activities in small batches (steps 14-17). While the SME reviews one batch, the ID can write the next.

18 Make activities available, ? ? Activities in use in the possibly releasing to only a workplace along with the non- subset of people. training solutions 19 Evaluate the project so far ? Improved activities and other and improve as needed solutions

Key Instructional designer; also produces ID or oversees production of materials SME Subject matter expert

Client Person who requested the project People who will use the materials on Users the job (learners) Decide strategy; generate content

Be interviewed; respond to content

? Consider including this person

Key deliverable

From Cathy Moore: www.cathy-moore.com