Dan said --
> In Deming's PDSA (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycle, what distinction did Deming
> intend between "Do" and "Act?"
I don't know for sure, but I always read it to mean:
plan (strategize),
do (implement) your plan,
study the results,
modify you plan (strategy),
and then "do" some more.
Sounds like a learning cycle we go through as individuals. To learn to
swing a golf club is definitely not a one-time event. A person would go
through many iterations of the PDSA cycle:
* plan - read up or watch someone swing and then develop your strategy for
hitting the ball
* do - swing and hit the ball
* study - observe the results
* act - based on comparison of results to expectations, change your
strategy as needed
and then do again.
One could transfer this model to a systemic-based strategic planning
process (I like the term "continuous learning process"):
plan - systemic change
do - the system performing its' work
study - observation of systemic behavior or outcomes
act - assess the outcome to the expectations and decide on additional
systemic changes
Below is a visual loop of an iterative systemic planning (learning) cycle
(excuse the rudimentary sketch).
[Host's Note: character graphic sketch was mauled by gateways enroute to
the LO input queue. Too bad... Rick]
system
(do)
>
^
systemic change
outcomes
( plan)
(study)
< assessment
<
(act)
--Geof Fountain gffountain@prodigy.com
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>