Using ADDIE in an Agile Manner: Enhancing Instructional Design with Iterative Cycles

The decision to lean into ADDIE, Agile, or a blend of both often depends on several practical factors.

• Project Size and Scope: Larger, more complex projects may benefit from a thorough upfront planning phase that ADDIE offers. Establishing clear objectives and roadmaps early can set a solid foundation, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved.
• Timeline Pressures: If you’re facing a tight deadline or need to get a pilot version of your training into learners’ hands quickly, Agile‘s emphasis on rapid development and iterative releases has a clear advantage. This allows you to deliver a minimum viable product, collect feedback, and continuously improve without waiting for every detail to be perfect from the start.
• Content Stability: When course materials or requirements are still evolving, Agile shines by accommodating ongoing changes and late-breaking updates. ADDIE‘s linear process, while methodical, can introduce delays if content revisions occur after planning or design steps.
• Team Preferences and Workflow: Some teams thrive with detailed documentation and sequential stages, while others prefer collaborative sprints and regular check-ins. Consider your team’s working style and experience with each methodology before choosing a direction.

In many cases, the best approach isn’t strictly one or the other. By combining the structure of ADDIE with the flexibility of Agile, you can establish clear goals while remaining nimble enough to adapt along the way.

One of the key distinctions between ADDIE and Agile lies in how collaboration and transparency are woven into the process. In Agile environments, everyone has a seat at the table—learners, subject matter experts, designers, managers, and stakeholders all provide ongoing input. This isn’t just collaboration in name only; it’s an active, continuous dialogue that shapes the project at every step.

Transparency also takes on a new level of importance. Instead of waiting until the project’s final curtain call (as is often the case with traditional ADDIE), Agile projects embrace regular check-ins, reviews, and feedback loops. Issues rise to the surface early—no hiding in the shadows until the end. By contrast, ADDIE typically reserves its in-depth evaluation until the finish line, which can sometimes keep critical insights under wraps for too long.

This continual collaboration and open communication mean Agile projects are less likely to get stuck in the dreaded “big reveal” moment, making it easier to pivot and refine as you go.

In the ADDIE model, the course-building baton is primarily passed among instructional designers, subject matter experts (SMEs), project managers, and departmental leads. The team crafts the entire learning experience before it’s ever unveiled to learners—think of it as orchestrating a grand opening night with a select cast working behind the curtains.

Agile, on the other hand, opens the doors wide. Here, everyone—from designers and SMEs to learners, clients, managers, and stakeholders—takes a seat at the table. Learners don’t just watch from the audience; they’re part of the rehearsal process, offering feedback and shaping what comes next. This level of collaborative involvement is not just welcomed—it’s essential for Agile’s continuous, iterative rhythm.