Instructional Design Speed Helps Quality and Costs

Unfortunately, most instructional designers limit their approach and potential outcomes to outdated and sometimes painfully slow methodologies.

While the steps make basic sense, we have found that more unconventional strategies allow instructional designers to save time, save money, AND improve quality. Until they see it with their own eyes, most practitioners are rightfully skeptical.

There is an obvious connection between speed and cost. Because the majority of instructional design costs are directly connected to the amount time spent by instructional designers, facilitators, and subject-matter experts, less time equals less cost to the buyer. But getting things done faster feels to many to be incompatible with a higher quality; they assume that the trade-off for speed is lower quality.

However, our actual field results indicate just the opposite. Instructional design speed improves quality (measured by performance improvement) for two main reasons:

1. Increased Relevance. With less time available, instructional designers must limit themselves and their clients to only the vital few scenarios, skills, and concepts.
   
   
2. Adoption Pressure. With increased relevance and focus, subject matter experts and the target audience take on more responsibility to adopt the new skills.