Where linear ADDIE stops keeping up
Step 1 / 4·The three assumptions of linear ADDIE
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Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Recognise the three implicit assumptions of linear ADDIE
- Know when those assumptions stop holding
- Understand the cost of discovering a mismatch at the end
The three assumptions of linear ADDIE
Understand the conditions ADDIE works well in.
ADDIE is not wrong. It is the most durable instructional design framework in the profession's history because it is systematic and manageable. But run linearly — finish Analysis before starting Design, finish Design before starting Development — it rests on three implicit assumptions.
Three assumptions and when they break
| Assumption | Holds when | Breaks when |
|---|---|---|
| The need can be fully specified at the start | The content is stable, there are precedents, the requester knows what they want | The requester only knows 'there is a problem' without knowing what it is |
| The need does not change during the project | Short project, stable environment | The project runs months, during which the product or process has changed |
| People can describe what they want before seeing it | Familiar requirements with an existing reference | Novel requirements — people only know what they want once they see what they do not |
The third assumption breaks most often
This is not the requester's fault. Humans are generally poor at describing something that does not yet exist, but very good at reacting to a concrete draft. 'No, not like that' is enormously valuable information — and you only get it when there is something to look at.
Key takeaway: Linear ADDIE assumes the need is specifiable, stable, and describable before it is seen.