People, Process, and Pedagogy – Dr. Guieswende Rouamba on Project Management in Instructional Design (part 1)

In this episode, Dr. Vernon Smith and Dr. Michael Cottam talk with Dr. Guieswende Rouamba, learning designer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and author of The Instructional Designer’s Guide to Project Management.

Guieswende shares how project management helps instructional designers navigate complex collaborations and reduce burnout. He introduces his “Three Ps” — People, Process, and Pedagogy — and explains why relationships are at the heart of every successful project.

Whether you lead design teams, teach online, or manage academic innovation, this conversation will remind you that the key to great outcomes starts with great people.

Highlights:

  • Guieswende’s journey from Burkina Faso to Illinois.
  • How project management skills elevate instructional design.
  • The “domain dispute” between faculty and designers — and how empathy resolves it.
  • The Three Ps framework: People, Process, and Pedagogy.
  • Positive psychology in project management.
  • How project management helps instructional designers prevent burnout.

Resources Mentioned:

  • The Instructional Designer’s Guide to Project Management by Dr. Guieswende Rouamba
  • MACRO Leadership by Dr. Michael Cottam
  • EngagedByDesign.com – Free leadership tools and downloads