4.6: Continuous Improvement - PDCA
- Page ID
- 117996
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Continuous improvement is an important, ongoing business strategy. Recall the Deming cycle, a methodology for continuous improvement that consists of four key stages: (1) Plan, (2) Do, (3) Check, (4) Act.

Image Source: "Diagram by Karn Bulsuk, http://www.bulsuk.com. Wikimedia Commons.
The Deming cycle, helps managers assess the effects of planned action by integrating organizational learning into the planning process. The cycle consists of four key stages: (1) Plan—create the plan using the model discussed earlier. (2) Do—implement the plan. (3) Check—monitor the results of the planned course of action; organizational learning about the effectiveness of the plan occurs at this stage. (4) Act—act on what was learned, modify the plan, and return to the first stage in the cycle, and the cycle begins again as the organization strives for continuous learning and improvement. Source: Deming Cycle (opens in new window)
- 17.2: The Planning Process (opens in new window) by OpenStax is licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: https://openstax.org/details/books/p...les-management.


