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?
4 sets of questions that help you think logically about 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 people in operational roles to use.
It is flexible in how long it takes and how deeply you apply it. It’s worth asking at least some of the questions from each step, but how deeply you search for answers depends on the financial and reputational risks involved, how much time it will take and far reaching the impact is across your team. If those are high, it’s worth slow down and giving each stage solid attention. If risks, time and complexity are low, or the solutions are tried and tested, it’s still worth doing each step to check blind spots, but you can move swiftly.
Why use the Core-4
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.
The Core 4 self-diagnostic tool
An online tool to help you self-assess your readiness at each stage of the Core-4.
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