ADDIE - What's the big deal?

Upon reading the overview of the ADDIE model given by Clark , it seems to me that ADDIE is simply a framework for a problem solving process.  There exist many different problem solving processes, for example the Engineering Design Process. ADDIE seems to take the general idea from several of these processes and group them under the labels of Analysis, Design, Development, Implement, and Evaluate. Although the acronym may have originated in 1975 by the Center for Educational Technology at Florida State University (Clark), the steps in the process do not seem to be unique to the Instructional Design field. Almost all problem solving models follow the same general steps outlined in ADDIE


Through the paper In Search of the Elusive ADDIE  Michael Molenda of the University of Indiana details his search for an original or authoritative definition of the ADDIE model. Despite his efforts, Molenda was not able to identify an authoritative definition of the ADDIE model. In order for the ADDIE model to hold more weight in the realm of problem solving models or as something unique to the field of Instructional Design, specific subsets of each of the steps in the process need to be identified. With these subsets in place there would be more direction in the process of the model. Without these subsets I agree with Molenda when he identifies ADDIE as more of a label than a process.


Some have used the ADDIE model as a basis for defining the domain of Instructional Design (Bichelmeyer). Although I am just becoming familiar with this domain, I believe that it would be shortsighted to say that Instructional Design can be defined by a single process used within the domain. Rather, Instructional Design should be defined by what it strives to accomplish. In short, Instructional Design strives to design instruction in such a way that effective learning occurs. Many of the problems associated with the “identity crisis” of Instructional Design could more effectively be addressed if a focus was placed on what is done within this domain rather than how it differs from other domains.