PDCADEMINGsirkelen

PDCADEMINGsirkelen is a term used in some Nordic management contexts to describe a continuous-improvement framework that merges the PDCA cycle with Deming's quality-management principles. The model emphasizes iterative cycles, data-driven decision making, and the involvement of frontline staff in planning and testing changes.

Origin and scope: The PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) originated with Walter A. Shewhart and was popularized by W. Edwards Deming as a core method of quality management. The addition of Deming in the compound term signals an emphasis on Deming's broader philosophy, including systems thinking, prevention, and organizational learning. The term appears in workshops, training materials, and some standards in manufacturing, services, IT, and public administration, especially where practitioners want to foreground Deming-inspired practices within a PDCA framework. The word sirkelen (the circle) reflects the cyclical nature of the method in Nordic usage.

Process and use: Plan involves defining objectives, identifying metrics, and forming hypotheses. Do implements the change on a small scale to test impact. Check collects data, analyzes results, and compares them with targets. Act standardizes successful changes, documents lessons, and adjusts processes and metrics before restarting the cycle. The approach emphasizes customer value, process thinking, and leadership engagement, often incorporating basic statistical thinking and control concepts.

Critique and considerations: Critics note that PDCADEMINGsirkelen can become a superficial label if applied without clear goals or appropriate metrics. Risks include over-planning, under-sampling, or treating the cycle as a rigid ritual rather than a learning process. When implemented thoughtfully, it supports continuous improvement, cross-functional collaboration, and a data-informed culture.

See also: PDCA, Deming cycle, Kaizen, quality management, continuous improvement.