Action mapping is an Instructional Design Framework developed by Cathy Moore in 2008. It is a tool that’s meant to streamline and simplify the design process of learning and development interventions. The technique mainly focuses on analyzing a problem at hand and defining an appropriate solution. 

With Action Mapping, training is not only designed with a purpose and goal from the start, but it also provides the opportunity to identify the information required to achieve its goals. The main goal of action mapping is to let learning and development practitioners design activities that increase the absorption and retention of knowledge.

An Action Map might look something like this –

Here’s how to build your own Action Map –

1. Identify the Business Goal. Identifying the business goal keeps the course focused on what the learners actually need to know, rather than simply including all of the information that could be relevant. In the Action Map, this goal is the center of your map.

2. What People Need to Do. This step identifies all of the steps or actions that employees need to take to achieve the business goal. These steps indicate actions, not pieces of knowledge, and should be things that employees will do. In the Action Map, these actions will surround your goal at the center of your map.

3. Design Practice Activities. Practice activities refer to real activities or tasks that employees will perform in the workplace and should mirror real-world situations as much as possible. In the Action Map, each practice on the map will relate to an activity or activities, all of which relate back to the business goal.

4. Minimum Information Required. Find the minimum amount of information that learners must have in order to complete each practice activity. If the information doesn’t directly support an activity, don’t add it! In the Action Map, each piece of information directly relates to a practice activity, which accordingly, relates back to all of the actions and business goal.

Here’s an example of a completed Action Map – don’t worry if it isn’t something you teach (or understand); we’re are only looking at the principle:

The aim of action mapping is to stick with the essential goals, activities, and information needed to meet the business goal. Simply put, don’t include irrelevant or inconsequential information.

Action mapping will help you perform flawless needs analyses as well as design your training courses in the most effective way possible, leading to highly-motivated, knowledgeable, and productive employees. Make sure your organization’s Instructional Designers learn and apply this model as soon as they can.

Visit Cathy Moore’s website for more resources about the method.