The ADDIE Model

ADDIE model defines is a set of protocols or a step-by-step development of training content. In the field of Instructional Design, the ADDIE model stands as one of the widely followed models. One of the reasons (which I personally think) is because of the simple yet so powerful process that the ADDIE model possesses.

Let’s look at the each of the stages of the ADDIE model:-

A for Analysis: You are bored of using the same old clothes. It’s been a while you shopped as you closet clearly speaks out with age old shirts housing it. Also, you are bored of your ready-made outlets and need something custom made shirts. You are also zeroing in the tailors you have got your clothes done from.
What are you doing here? You are analysing the situation. That’s the first step the ADDIE model presents. The A of the ADDIE model- Analysis.

In a real case ID scenario, an ID needs to perform an analysis of what the training requirements are. Some of the question or power-points the ID needs to consider are:-
1. What is my target audience?
2. What is the duration of the training material to be delivered?
3. What is the expected behavioural changes post training deployment?
4. What are the technological boundaries?
5. What is the depth in which each of the content chunk that needs to be covered?

These are some of the basic analysis questions an ID must be prepared to ask the training development manager before any development activity begins. There may be more analysis that an ID must perform before stepping forward into the next stage of the ADDIE model. However, these vary from training that need to be deployed.

//But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation.//

D for Design: You have analysed your closet. You have also decided that you have a ton of ready made shirts and also want them to be custom made i.e. tailored. You head to the tailor and even before taking measurement you finalize upon the- Design.

This is the most fun stage for me because it brings out the creative side of an individual and also has a vast scope for exploring ideas. Here, an ID prepares a set of creative protocols the development team needs to follow before development takes off. It is also very useful as it reduces time for development and brings in consistency. An ID in this stage has been provided with provisions to build templates, consistency standards, protocols for development etc keeping the inputs from the analysis stage into consideration. As said earlier it propels the time required for development, but does not loose out on consistency. It also reduces the occurrence of errors due to defined development parameters this phase offers. So, for now it’s D for Design.

//But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation.//

D for Development: What does the tailor do after finalising and taking measurements? He starts stitching your shirt. Using technical words, development of your shirt. He has the pre-defined protocols- (The measurement, the design, etc.) so gets down to the next task stitching your shirt.

This is the stage where all the protocols, defined parameters etc are put into place in order to develop the training material. ID’s, graphics designers, action scripter’s all must buckle their belts for- the development. All the content, graphic elements, assessments methods etc are built in this stage. These processes can be a sonic in nature if the design elements are in place. Consistency and reduction in errors comes down to this stage depending on the amount of home work done in the design phase. So, the second D stands for Development.

//But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation.//

I for Implementation: The tailor calls you up. He tells you the shirt is ready. You reach the store and you try it out. What does this activity correspond to? It corresponds to the next step- Implementation.

Implementation is the stage that follows post development. You integrate the developed training material into the LMS. You deploy the training material. Keeping it short, you are launching the course; you are implementing the course. This is also the stage where all the activities are in place and functional. Some of the testing activities may also be performed in this stage or a prior stage (i.e: Development) depending on the project life cycle.

//But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation.//

E for Evaluation: The shirt is ready and you wear it. You like the fit of it and have decided to stitch a couple more. But, you tell the tailor you need the sleeves a little longer for the next set of shirts to be made. What you are doing here? You are evaluating the shirt. So, the final stage of the ADDIE model is Evaluation.

Evaluation is broadly classified into two types- Formative and Summative Evaluation. Let look at this in detail.

//But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation.// You must have read it all along the way and must be wondering this must be a typo. In the true sense, it is not. What I was trying to indicate here is Formative Evaluation. Formative Evaluation is the evaluation activity that is performed post every stage of the ADDIE model. May be after analysis an evaluation activity may be performed to ensure that the conditions taken while analysis we accurate or nothing has been missed out. This gives the ID the tool to be doubly-sure before stepping into the next stage. It acts as a safety net to make sure all activities have been wrapped up before processeding into the next stage. It ensures reduction in re-work and also ensures the activities performed in the prior stage are full proof.

Summative evaluation on the other hand is an evaluation activity that is performed after the deployment of the training material is done. It provides inputs from the end users (called as user feedback) to bring about changes in the course. It can also be seen as a marketing activity wherein a company may launch an enhanced version of the course leading to profit generation. However, summative evaluation helps the ID to ensure that if he/she faces a similar target audience, what are the factors that the ID needs to be aware of.


To sum it all up ADDIE model is the most widely used model in the Instructional Design domain. Advantages are transparency and the flexibility this model provides not to forget- But, the passive stage- Formative Evaluation. Personally speaking, my favourite ISD model- ADDIE.