PDSA, PDCA, SPDA, etc

["Alan Meekings" <alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk>]

I've followed, with interest, recent discussions around 'PDSA' and 'PDCA'.

I hold a slightly different view, namely that we ought to think more in
terms of 'Study-Plan-Do-Act' (SPSA), rather than 'Plan-Do-Study-Act' (PDSA).

My experience is that, if you ask managers to make a 'plan', they'll
typically come up with something based on their own perspectives of reality
and their own concepts around how the work should be done and the
organisation should be managed.

Given that their current thinking may be sub-optimal, the issue, therefore,
is how to bring new perspectives and thinking to bear.

Hence, I'd argue that we ought put 'study' ahead of 'plan' in the Deming
cycle.

Any thoughts, folks?

Regards as ever,
 
Alan
 
Email: alan@landmarkconsulting.co.uk
Mobile: 07785 258 741