Project Management is more important than ever in Learning and Development due to the need and desire of most organizations to do more (more development) with less (less human, time, IT, Subject Matter Expert, financial and other resources).
Stakeholder Management is a key function of Project Management in Learning and Development. While the System’s Approach to Training (ADDIE Model) is quite good at explaining why, when, how and with whom training is to be planned, SAT is not good at telling you exactly how to do it. It is ambiguous because every organization has limited resources.
The Systems Approach to Training is a dynamic, flexible system for developing and implementing effective and efficient instruction to meet current and projected needs. The SAT process is flexible in that it accounts for individual differences in ability, rate of learning, motivation, and achievement to capitalize on the opportunity for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of instruction. The SAT process reduces the number of school management decisions that have to be made subjectively and, instead, allows decisions to be made based on reasonable conclusions which are based on carefully collected and analyzed data. More than one solution to an instructional problem may be identified through the SAT, however the selection of the best solution is a goal of SAT.
The SAT is a continuous, cyclical process allowing any one of the five phases, and their associated functions, to occur at any time. In addition, each phase within SAT further builds upon the previous phase, providing a system of checks and balances to insure all instructional data are accounted for and that revisions to instructional materials are identified and made.
It is not the intent of the SAT process to create an excessive amount of paperwork, forms, and reporting requirements that must be generated by each formal school/training center conducting instruction. This would serve only to detract from the instructional program. The SAT process does not provide a specific procedure for every instructional situation that can be encountered. Instead, it presents a generalized approach that can be adapted to any instructional situation (SAT Manual – USMC).
So while SAT is a good road map, Project Management tells you when to stop for gas, how much to fill up and who is going on the trip.
There are basically two schools on Project and Program Management (PMI® which is a USA/Saudi model and Prince 2® which is basically a UK/EU/UAE model and there is a lot of overlap between both methods and the countries and their organizations that use formal methods. In that regard, there is little difference when it comes to using Project Management skill sets in Learning and Development. While RandyStewartMiller is a Texas based entity, Randy uses Prince 2® because it is cheaper to stay abreast with Prince 2® and PMI® is constantly switching around its PMBOK making things confusing and micromanaging everything. I guess that is how they float their boat.
