Choose Wisely: Deciding Between an Instructional Design Specialist or Generalist for Training Design

It’s impossible to be an expert in everything, so specialization is more necessary than ever. There’s too much to know.

If you specialize, you can go deep on a skill or topic and perfect it. Otherwise, you’re spinning your wheels, only touching the surface of many topics, but you never truly know any of them well.

This is no different for instructional designers. Some generalists do a bit of every type of training (or industry) but poorly, or they know just enough to get by. Then, on the other hand, there’s the specialist who isn’t as good at helping you with general needs but can help with their specific expertise.

So, business partners and project managers may find themselves in a quandary regarding workplace training. Do they need an instructional design specialist or generalist? With so much at stake, getting the right person for the job is vital.

The problem is a specialist isn’t always the right choice just like a generalist isn’t always the right choice. But you have to make the right choice regarding this important decision.

Instructional designers play a critical role in helping organizations create successful training programs. To ensure your project is successful, it’s essential to understand the difference between an instructional design specialist and a generalist.

Then you also have to evaluate which works best for your organization’s and project’s needs.

The primary difference between an instructional design specialist and a generalist lies in their scope of knowledge and skillsets. A specialist is focused on a particular area. The specialist could be an expert in specific industries, types of training (eLearning development, instructor-led training, etc.), or even topics such as DEI, technology, compliance, etc. Whatever they specialize in, they have deep expertise in that particular area.

We at techstructional are specialists in corporate technical training. We are semi-generalists across training types because we specialize in many digital training formats. So, we develop technical training through eLearning, performance support, contextual help, and training videos. We know the advantages of digital learning solutions, so we don’t specialize in any instructor-led training.

Specialists have a great understanding of the unique nuances of their specialty and have years of practice to show for it. They have the skills necessary to create training content that is exactly what people need when needed and in the right format for the content.

On the other hand, a generalist is a jack of all trades and has a wide range of experience with different types of instructional design. They are versatile and can quickly move between various projects but may not have the same level of knowledge and expertise in any specific area.

This post covers the benefits, drawbacks, and considerations when choosing between an instructional design specialist or a generalist for your next training project. In addition, it provides project managers, change managers, and company leaders with ways to make an informed decision that aligns with organization and project goals.

What Does Each Type of Instructional Designer Do?

Lots of things!

Just kidding. Except I’m not. Instructional designers wear many hats, and the job can sometimes change daily. I’ve been at it for more than 14 years, and what I did 14 years ago is very different from what I do now. What I do now is drastically different from what I did last year, and that’s not much time.

So, let’s look at what a specialist and a generalist do and how it might differ.

What a Specialist Does

An instructional design specialist is knowledgeable in the design, development, and evaluation of learning materials and has expertise in a particular subject, field, or delivery type.

Instructional design specialists are highly sought after for their specific skill sets and can bring much value to an organization’s training and development initiatives. They create effective learning experiences that align with the organization’s needs and goals that align with their expertise. It may be that a generalist sees the need for a specialist and brings them in on a project.

It’s common to see instructional design jobs seeking knowledge in a specific subject, such as sales enablement. Or perhaps looking for someone who has worked in the auto industry or government. Then some jobs are looking for someone who has created a lot of instructor-led training (not us!).

Just like a generalist, they work closely with subject matter experts to understand the material and target audience deeply. With this understanding, they design training materials that effectively communicate the core concepts and have the potential to engage people in relevant learning content.

Instructional design specialists are also responsible for identifying gaps in existing training materials and suggesting changes that can improve its effectiveness.

Then there’s the part of the job that requires providing support and guidance to the organization in assessment, measurement, and evaluation. A specialist may be able to pinpoint the exact time to use and benefit of allowing employees to test out of training.

Or perhaps they’re just acting as an instructional design consultant to help the business improve performance when a training expert is required. Maybe a performance consultant deems training an ideal solution, and they bring in an instructional designer who specializes in exactly what they need.

The specialist ensures the training materials are up-to-date and relevant and that the learning outcomes are being met. But all that happens on a zoomed-in focused level where the instructional designer specializes.

What Does a Generalist Do?

An instructional design generalist works in a wide range of areas and has expertise in multiple fields of instructional design. Maybe they dabble in a little bit of digital and instructor-led training. Or perhaps they’ve worked in tech, automotive, government, etc., and know a bit about each.

Unlike instructional design specialists, generalists have a broader knowledge of different types of instructional design and can easily transition their skills to other projects. Instructional design generalists are responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and developing learning materials that meet the organization’s needs and goals.

This includes designing courses, modules, activities, classes, etc., that effectively meet required performance goals. Additionally, instructional design generalists are responsible for selecting the most appropriate delivery methods for the content and ensuring that the content is up-to-date and relevant.

Sometimes, a generalist works closely with a specialist to tap into each other’s strengths.

Just like specialists, generalists may also provide support and guidance to the organization in areas such as assessment, measurement, and evaluation, including DEI, compliance, technology, or whatever else is needed. They collaborate closely with subject matter experts to ensure that the content is relevant and engaging.

So, not much varies between the two on a topical level, except one goes deep and one goes wide.

Comparing Instructional Design Specialists and Generalists

When deciding between an instructional design specialist or a generalist, it’s important to consider the scope of your project and your organization’s needs. Instructional design specialists have a deep understanding of a particular subject and can provide high-quality training materials for that specific subject.

They are highly knowledgeable in their field and have the potential to create effective, engaging, and relevant learning experiences if you need depth of skill for the training.

On the other hand, depth isn’t always necessary, and a project may span several realms. That may require a broader knowledge, which could be more important. Instructional design generalists have a wide range of knowledge and skill sets that can be applied to different types of projects.

A generalist would likely be more helpful, at least consulting when various training types are required. Perhaps it spans DEI and compliance or other topics. In that case, a generalist could be more helpful, at least from a consulting point of view.

Sometimes there’s a need for some general knowledge because, for example, even technical training has some need for soft skills.

Evaluating Your Project Goals Before Choosing

Before you decide between an instructional design specialist or a generalist, it’s important to evaluate the goals and scope of your project.

It’s always helpful to consider the following questions:

• What specific areas need to be addressed?
• What type of content needs to be created?
• What is the timeline for the project?
• What is the budget for the project?
• Who needs to be trained?
• What type of environment are employees learning in?
• What’s the prior knowledge or level of those needing to be trained?

Evaluating these questions can help you determine whether an instructional design specialist or generalist would be most suitable for your project. If your answers to these questions are relatively broad, you may want to look into a generalist. However, a specialist could be the best option if your answers are very focused.

The Pros and Cons of Each

Just like with everything, there are pros and cons for specialists and generalists. We’d love to say that specialists are the way to because we are specialists (technology + digital training). Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and it doesn’t benefit us to tell you that specialists are better.

So, we’ll tell you straight that there are positives and negatives. We might not be right for your project, but we’ll let you know if we are. If we’re not, we’ll also tell you because if we don’t, we might make you an unhappy camper.

It’s time to take a deeper look into the pros and cons of each.

Pros and Cons of a Specialist

Working with an instructional design specialist can add value to your organization’s training and development initiatives. However, they may not add enough value when needed on a broader scale.

Here are some of the pros and cons of working with an instructional design specialist:

Pros

• Knowledgeable in a particular subject or field.
• Can provide high-quality training materials within their expertise.
• Can design effective and engaging learning experiences.
• Can provide support and guidance in areas such as assessment and measurement within their expertise.

Cons

• Typically charge higher rates.
• May not be available to take on larger projects.
• May not be available to take on projects with a tight turnaround.

While their cost may be higher, it may be worth it to end up with the most effective training that takes the least time for your employee.

Pros and Cons of a Generalist

Working with an instructional design generalist can benefit organizations that must quickly create effective training materials across topics, industries, or training types.

Here are some of the pros and cons of working with an instructional design generalist:

Pros

• Versatile and can work on different types of projects.
• Can quickly move between different projects in different industries or areas of a company.
• Can provide support and guidance in areas such as assessment and measurement on broader topics and with broader requirements.
• Typically charge lower rates.

Cons

• May not have the same level of expertise as a specialist for essential parts of a project.
• May not be able to provide high-quality training materials of all types (eLearning, performance support, etc.)
• May not be able to create effective and engaging learning experiences for some requirements.

Just like anything, generalists have pros and cons but ultimately are no more or less better than specialists. Project requirements and your organization’s needs will ultimately dictate your choice. It’s important to approach it neutrally, though. Doing this and analyzing your requirements properly will help you make the best decision.

Making the Right Decision for Your Project’s Needs

Making the right decision between an instructional design specialist or generalist for your project will depend on your organization, the project’s needs, and goals. Evaluating the scope and timeline of your project, as well as the budget and target audience, will help you determine which type of instructional designer is the best fit.

An instructional design specialist may be the best option if your project requires expertise in a particular subject or field. They can provide high-quality training for their expertise in most cases.

On the other hand, if your project spans training types and topics, then an instructional design generalist may be better suited for the task. They have a wide range of knowledge and skill sets that can span an entire project and may make the training more successful.

The decision might not always be crystal clear, though. What about this scenario? You’re a healthcare company that has new software rolling out to clinicians. The software is clinical and technical, so which route do you take? Do you need an instructional designer specializing in medical or technical training?

In this case, it’s a battle between the medical and the IT. Sometimes you must provide a subject matter expert (SME) who can provide one side. The likely answer in this scenario is that you need a specialist in technical training and perhaps a SME who’s an expert on the system and an expert on the medical side.

Either that or you need a generalist with medical experience and someone who specializes in technical training.

You ultimately need to make the best decision for you depending on the expertise you already have in your organization. The likely best solution will be to hire someone who fills the gaps in skills or knowledge that your organization lacks.

Always remember that instructional designers don’t need to be subject matter experts. They shouldn’t be. However, having an instructional designer who can add value where you most lack the skills necessary to create effective training is a good idea.

Final Considerations and Tips

When choosing between an instructional design specialist or a generalist for your project, consider the following tips:

• Know your organization’s strengths and weaknesses so you can fill the gaps.
• Evaluate the scope and timeline of your project.
• Consider the budget and target audience.
• Think about what changes are needed in employee performance.
• Research the experience and qualifications of the specialist or generalist.
• Ensure the generalist or specialist has the right knowledge to fill the gaps your organization lacks.

These tips can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your organization and project goals. Making the right decision can either make or break your project.

Wrap Up

Choosing between an instructional design specialist or a generalist for your project can be daunting. With the information from this post, you should be able to evaluate your needs properly. Once you know the scope and timeline of the project, as well as the budget and target audience, you’ll be able to make the best decision.

Consider the pros and cons of working with an instructional design specialist or generalist. By following these guidelines and steps, project managers, change managers, and company leaders can make informed decisions and choose wisely between an instructional design specialist or a generalist for their training project.

If you’re still unsure what the right solution is for you, we’re always happy to help. If you come prepared with answers to some of the questions we proposed, then we might be able to provide valuable guidance in less than 30 minutes.

So, schedule a free consultation and we’ll guide you the best we can. We have a relatively narrow specialty, so we won’t necessarily be the right solution for you, but we’ll be able to at least point you in the right direction.