In Mager and Pipe’s Flow Model, the first step is to identify performance problem.
These need to be
- Measurable
- Observable
- Performance-based
It is followed by questions:
- Is it worth solving?
- Can we apply fast fixes?
- Are the consequences appropriate?
- Is there skill deficiency?
- Are there other causes?
- Which solutions are the best?
Under each of these categories, there are decision points like yes/no questions to assess the situations, making the model systematic and simple. An additional advantage of this framework is its focus on cost effectiveness, such as assessing if the problem is worth solving or guiding users to choose non-training solutions over the more expensive training solutions.
Nonetheless, it is believed by many professionals that the model is way too simple to resolve complex issues. A “yes” or “no” answer could be insufficient to address problems that are caused by multiple reasons and call for multiple solutions.
That said, the Mager and Pipe’s Model is still a systematic, simple and powerful tool, which works effectively as a starting guideline to understand performance problems and build up the solutions for them.
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