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Day 22 / 60Week 3 · Performance ConsultingLesson

Action mapping

Learning goal

Build an action map that connects a business goal to observable actions.

Estimated time

30 minutes · self-paced

Warm-up

What would people be *doing* differently if the problem were solved?

Main lesson

The four steps

diagram

Cathy Moore's model: identify the measurable business goal, list what people need to do, find what's stopping them, design practice activities only for real skill gaps.

  • Goal — measurable, business-owned
  • Actions — observable, on-the-job
  • Barriers — knowledge, environment, motivation
  • Activities — realistic practice, minimum information

Information is on demand

Attach reference information to the activity that needs it instead of front-loading it.

The map as a conversation tool

example

The visual map is how you say 'no' to content requests without saying no.

Examples from practice

  • Action map that cut a requested 90-minute course into three 6-minute practice sets.

Interactive quiz

In action mapping, when does content get added?

Reflection

Which stakeholder in your life would resist an action map most?

Daily challenge

Draw an action map (paper is fine) for the problem you chose yesterday.

Portfolio task

Photograph or rebuild the action map into Project 3.

AI design tools

Ten assistants for this lesson

AI Mentor

Instructional design questions only

Hi! I'm your ID Mentor. Ask me anything about action mapping — or instructional design in general.