When it comes to developing e-Learning courses, no two sets of requirements or budgets are ever the same.
Sophisticated clients demand more cost effective courses with faster turnaround times and it’s up to us consultants and developers to deliver!
So we’ve put together a helpful infographic that may shed some light into the ways in which greater efficiencies and cost savings can be gained through the combining of traditionally individual roles.
And with the widespread availability of easy to use authoring tools, templates, and stock imagery, finding these multi-skilled individuals isn’t the unicorn hunt it may have been a few years ago.
That said, and when it comes to developing the highest quality and most cutting edge and innovative courseware, there will always be a need to specialists.
2. Instructional Designer
Subject Matter Expert
Project Manager
Editor
Multimedia Developer
LMS Integrator
Quality Assurance
Content Writer
Traditional Roles
Common roles in traditional e-Learning development teams
Graphic Artist Programmer
Example of a traditional
e-Learning development team
where each function is assigned
to an individual resource.
Generally, this structure can
produce the highest courseware
quality (Levels 2-3), albeit at a
higher cost and lengthier
turnaround time.
3. Instructional Designer
Lean Development RolesAn example of a lean team with combined roles which can be used for rapid
development
Multimedia Developer
Programmer
Content Writer
Editor
Quality Assurance
Graphic Artist
Project Manager
Technical Instructional designer conducting
multiple roles
Example of a rapid development
situation where the instructional
designer also develops all of the
content with the help of authoring
tools. This is a very cost effective
and efficient structure for simple
(Level 1-1.5), well structured
courses.
4. Instructional Designer
Lean Development RolesAn example of a lean, three person development team which can be used in
moderately complex custom courseware projects
Multimedia Developer
Programmer
Content Writer
Editor
Quality Assurance
Graphic Artist
Project Manager
Multimedia Developer
An example of a minimal development team
consisting of a multi-functional Instructional
designer and content developer working with a
SME. This configuration can be well suited for
moderate level (Levels 1.5-2), custom e-
Learning courses that require shorter
development schedules.
LMS Integrator
Instructional Designer
Subject Matter Expert
5. Other Possibilities
The roles shown previously are just
a few examples of the many ways
combining related tasks into one
role can create significant cost and
efficiency benefits.