A New Framework for Learning That Performs

Most training programs follow a predictable path: analyze, design, develop, implement, evaluate. It’s structured. It’s logical. And yet, six months after launch, managers are asking the same question: “Why isn’t anything changing?”

The problem isn’t that traditional instructional design models are wrong, it’s that they were built for a different era. ADDIE gave us structure when we needed process. SAM brought agility when we needed speed. But neither was designed to answer the question that matters most to today’s organizations: Is this training actually improving performance?

That’s why we developed the CLIP Model.

What Is CLIP?

CLIP stands for Clarity, Learning, Iteration, and Performance, a performance-focused framework that ensures learning programs connect directly to measurable business outcomes.

Unlike traditional models that treat evaluation as a final step, CLIP embeds performance measurement into every phase. It’s not just about completing a course. It’s about changing behaviour, improving results, and proving ROI in the language that operations and finance understand.

The Four Phases of CLIP

1. Clarity: Start With the End in Mind

Every CLIP project begins with clarity, not just about what content to cover, but about what success actually looks like.

We map the current state, define the desired performance outcomes, and identify the real barriers to success. Is this a knowledge gap? A process issue? A motivation problem? Most training fails because it solves the wrong problem.

In this phase, we work closely with stakeholders to understand:

• What business metrics need to move

• Who the learners are and what motivates them

• What “good performance” looks like in practice

• How we’ll measure success beyond satisfaction surveys

  
  

2. Learning: Design Experiences That Stick

Once we have clarity, we design learning experiences that engage both the mind and the emotion.

This isn’t about information dumps or click-through modules. It’s about storytelling, real-world scenarios, and interactive elements that make learning memorable. We blend instructional design principles with creative thinking to build experiences people don’t just complete, they remember and apply.

Whether it’s a digital module, a live workshop, or a blended program, every learning touchpoint is designed to bridge the gap between “knowing” and “doing.”

3. Iteration: Build, Test, Refine

Learning design isn’t a linear process, it’s collaborative and adaptive.

We build prototypes, test with real users, and refine based on feedback. This iterative approach (borrowed from SAM’s agility) ensures we’re not locked into a rigid plan that doesn’t work in practice.

Clients are involved throughout, reviewing storyboards, testing modules, and shaping the final experience. This collaboration ensures the training reflects their voice, their culture, and their reality.

4. Performance: Measure What Matters

Here’s where CLIP diverges most sharply from traditional models.

We don’t stop at Kirkpatrick Level 1 (satisfaction) or even Level 2 (knowledge gain). We measure Level 3 (behaviour change) and Level 4 (business impact).

Did onboarding time decrease? Did error rates drop? Did customer satisfaction improve? Did managers report stronger team performance?

We design feedback loops, manager check-ins, and performance tracking into the program itself, so learning becomes embedded in workflow, not separate from it.

How CLIP Compares to ADDIE and SAM

ADDIE gives us structure and thoroughness and CLIP retains that rigour in the Clarity and Performance phases.

SAM gives us speed and collaboration and CLIP adopts that iterative, prototype-driven approach in the Learning and Iteration phases.

But CLIP goes further by:

• Linking every project to measurable business outcomes from day one

• Embedding performance tracking throughout the process, not just at the end

• Focusing on workplace behaviour change, not just course completion

• Creating accountability for results, not just deliverables

Why CLIP Matters for Your Organization

If you’re investing in training, you deserve more than completed courses and high satisfaction scores. You deserve programs that move the needle on the metrics that matter to your business.

CLIP ensures that every learning initiative is:

• Strategically aligned with business goals

• Engaging and memorable for learners

• Collaboratively built with your team

• Measurably effective in driving performance

Whether you’re onboarding new hires, developing leaders, or rolling out compliance training, CLIP ensures your investment translates to lasting impact.

Ready to Design Learning That Performs?

At Edotto Studio, every project is guided by the CLIP framework. We don’t just create training, we engineer performance improvement.

If you’re ready to move beyond check-the-box learning and build programs that truly transform how your team works, let’s talk.

Visit edotto.studio to explore how we work, or reach out to start a conversation about what’s possible for your organization.

About Edotto Studio

Edotto Studio is a boutique learning design agency that bridges strategy, creativity, and human growth. We design custom learning experiences, leadership programs, and learning tools for organizations ready to move beyond checkbox training. Based in Montreal, working globally.