University of Wisconsin–Madison

PDSA

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PDSA Instructions

PDSA Cycle explained

Plan
  • Plan a change or test, aimed at improvement.
  • Include how you will collect data.
  • What is your prediction for the test?
Do
  • Carry out the change or test, preferably on a small
    scale.
  • Document your observations.
  • Record data.
Study
  • Study the results. Was your prediction correct?
  • What worked and what went wrong.
  • Summarize what was learned.
Act
  • Adopt the change (or) abandon the change (or) adapt
    the change and run another cycle.
  • Move on to next cycle.
Model for Improvement ask three questions: What are we trying to accomplish? How will we know that a change is an improvement? What changes can we make that will result in an improvement?