The analysis phase clarifies instructional problems and objectives, and identifies the learning environment and learner’s existing knowledge and skills. Questions the analysis phase addresses include;

• Who are the learners and what are their characteristics?

• What is the desired new behavior?

• What types of learning constraints exist?

• What are the delivery options?

• What are the pedagogical considerations?

• What adult learning theory considerations apply?

• What is the timeline for project completion?

The process of asking these questions is often part of a needs analysis. During the needs analysis instructional designers (IDs) will determine constraints and resources in order to fine tune their plan of action.