The Core 4
A planning tool to help L&D leaders (and other operations staff) apply structured curiosity to business problems.
What is the Core-4
It’s a sequence of steps that help plan projects and design solutions to business challenges. Core-4 draws from behavioural science and design and packages it in a framework that’s easier for L&D professionals (and other operational roles) to use.
Each of the four steps should done at some point in order to think logically though your challenge. It’s flexible in how long it takes and how deeply you apply it: the duration and rigour of each stage depends on how long you have, what’s at stake.
A risky project, where the context is vague or the financial and reputational impact is high, deserves solid attention across all stages.
A low risk project, where the solutions have been done before or impact is narrow still benefit from the Core-4, but you can move through the stages much quicker.
Why use the Core-4
The Core-4 helps you think strategically and consistently about your people and culture projects.
Better outcomes. You identify blind spots that are worth discovering before, not after launch. For example, when someone says, ‘we need training’ and you are not sure that’s the right solution, that person may have leapt straight into the ‘Design’ stage. The Core-4 gives you structure and language to help them slow down, identify the business need and make sure solutions (which could include training) are the right ones.
Credibility with senior stakeholders. You have a consistent, clear structure to respond when someone asks for L&D support. The Core-4 is essentially a questioning tool that you can use on the fly with any staff. If the C-suite learns that you’ll have a structured, thoughtful response to their requests.
Using the Core-4 helps you think strategically and consistently about your people and culture projects. In this tool you'll move through the Core-4 stages and answer questions that help you identify blind spots at each stage. It's a bit like getting a survey before you buy a house - you don't have to, but skip it and you risk owning a problem down the line.
How to do thisSet aside 10 minutes and check your project's foundations. For each statement, answer true or false. At the end of each section, you'll rate how confident you are overall and get a summary of your responses and advice for action.
Description of your challenge/projectYour description will appear alongside your results as a reminder. It isn't stored or shared anywhere.
Click anywhere to begin.
- Answer for one specific project, not your role in general.
- Don't overthink it - use it as a quick snapshot.
- Be honest.
- Overconfidence is dangerous for planning projects - ask a colleague if your answers feel right.
How confident are you that you're ready to move on?
That's the full Core-4 health check. If you'd like a second pair of eyes on any stage, I can help.
Book a free 60-min intro call