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Instructional Systems Design (ISD) - Analyzing The Characteristics of a Work Setting 

Worksheet

The following worksheet is available for work setting analysis purposes. Before using the worksheet be sure to read this entire section.

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Adobe Acrobat DocumentWork Setting Analysis Worksheet - Use this worksheet to analyze the characteristics of a work setting. 

Overview

Analyzing the characteristics of a work setting involves gathering information about the resources, constraints and culture of an organization so that instruction will be designed in a way appropriate to the environment. The instructional design process is a change effort that is intended to meet or avert deficiencies in knowledge, skills, or attitudes. It should therefore be carried out with due appreciation for the environment in which the instruction will be designed, delivered, and subsequently applied.

If this step is ignored, instructional designers may experience stiff resistance from managers and prospective learners. Worse yet, learners may later experience much frustration if, when they return to their job settings, they are not allowed to apply what they learned because their managers or co-workers do not support it.

Environments

Three environments are analyzed:

  • the developmental environment,
  • the delivery environment, and
  • the application environment.

Developmental Environment - Any number of issues may arise here such as fundamental beliefs about how an organization must function with its customers, what the organization should be involved with, commitment to and resources for carrying out the design process, and preconceptions about the design process and/or delivery methods. Both the design team members and the organization at large should be assessed.

Delivery Environment - Assess "probable" delivery methods based on any predetermined notions about the methods among managers and learners. Remember the actual delivery method is selected later in the design process.

Application Environment - Some issues that may affect on-the-job-application of instruction include work pressures, conservation partner perception of the job to be done, support for innovation, and availability of resources to do the job.

The issues listed above are only a few of those that could affect the design, delivery and application of instruction. Each design effort will probably produce its own unique set of issues.

Next Step - Performing a job, task, content or goal analysis

Previous Step - Assessing the Relevant Characteristics of Learners