Feeling overwhelmed by everything instructional design now demands, from tight timelines, collaborating with SMEs to evolving tech, and high expectations?
Instructional design is no longer just about knowing theories and practices. It's about leading people, managing timelines, handling competing priorities, and delivering quality under pressure. Yet, most instructional designers are never taught how to manage projects, navigate stakeholders, or steer course builds through uncertainty.
This book changes that.
It bridges the gap between learning design and project management. Whether you're building your first course or managing a portfolio of courses, this practical guide gives you the tools, strategies, and mindset to thrive in today's fast-paced learning environments.
Inside, you'll discover how to:
- Apply project management principles directly to instructional design.
- Collaborate more effectively with SMEs and stakeholders.
- Avoid burnout and prevent common pitfalls like scope creep and poor communication.
- Lead course builds with clarity, confidence, and strategic insight.
You'll also explore how to manage real-world challenges, from juggling tight deadlines to resolving conflict and staying focused on what matters most: creating meaningful learning experiences.
If you're ready to take control of your instructional design projects, this book will show you how.
About the Author :
Dr. Guieswende Rouamba is an educator, researcher, and thought leader in instructional design and educational innovation. With a Ph.D. in Instructional Design and Technology, he brings over a decade of experience building impactful learning experiences through evidence-based design, emerging technologies, and faculty development.He currently serves as a Learning Designer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he partners with faculty to create engaging online courses for the Gies College of Business.Dr. Rouamba is also an active researcher and author, having published and presented widely on topics such as learning analytics, predictive models for student success, and scalable design practices. His book, The Instructional Designer's Guide to Project Management, reflects his commitment to blending strategy, creativity, and collaboration in advancing higher education.Beyond research and design, Dr. Rouamba is deeply invested in mentoring the next generation of educators. He has guided more than 270 graduate students in learning how to teach online and continues to mentor junior instructional designers as they grow in their careers.A lifelong learner and mentor, he is passionate about creating inclusive learning environments, supporting faculty innovation, and equipping instructional designers with the project management tools and practices needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing educational landscape.
Review :
I've read a few books on instructional design and project management, and this one by Dr. Guieswende Rouamba really stood out for its clear, practical guidance. It connects everyday L&D challenges with proven PM tools, without overwhelming you with theory. One thing I appreciated was the emphasis that project management is ultimately about people, not just process. The section on using the SCARF model to surface stakeholder concerns was especially helpful because it's simple. The book also encourages blending ID and PM practices to keep learning projects on track, which works well for L&D professionals. Breaking work into chunks, managing expectations, and staying adaptable, all of these ideas felt both realistic and refreshing.
If you're in learning and development and manage any kind of training initiative, this book is 100% worth it. I enjoyed how this short book was both written and organized. The first part laid down a few interesting people management principles, while the second part was a story on how these and project management practices worked in the context of instructional design. Great work, and I would be happy to read other material from Dr. Rouamba.
I wish this book had been available a few years ago. I have experienced firsthand, or through my team, the challenges described in its pages, whether working with subject matter experts or managing complex team dynamics. This book serves as a valuable guide for instructional designers, faculty members, and teaching center directors who are committed to excellence. I highly recommend it!
The book came to me just in time: I was thinking whether I should take a project management course in my master's, as I felt it could complement my instructional design skills. This book proved it right. PM is beneficial to ID, especially when navigating multiple projects. You will find many practical tools and tips inside.
After graduating with my Master's degree and with a few years of experience under my belt, I was asked at a conference, "What didn't they teach you in grad school but wish they had about instructional design?" Without skipping a beat, my answer was "project management." This book meets a very practical need that every instructional designer will face. Good pedagogical insights, a mastery of educational technologies, and a trusting relationship with a faculty member can still lead to a failed (or, at least, painful) course development project without good project management skills. This book both illustrates why this is important and offers very practical strategies an instructional designer can employ. Plus, the second half of the book is in an engaging story format, making the whole book a quick and delightful read!
I just had the opportunity to read the book "The Instructional Designer's Guide to Project Management" by Guieswende Rouamba. It's an easy read which provides valuable insight to IDs as they work through daily challenges, especially for the ID who works for an online university. The book lays out important psychological concepts of working as a team and culminates with the ID team integrating simple Project Management skills into their daily routine.
