I think there is a big difference from actually doing PDSA and what I would call “trying stuff.” The analogy tries to convince people that they are already doing PDSA when they try solutions and just see if it works. This is different than really doing PDSA. P requires observation and gathering of knowledge, and purposeful hypothesis development. Trying stuff is doing one thing, finding out it doesn’t work, then trying something else. There is no purposeful hypothesis development, testing, and ultimately no learning.

Second, a point on education: When trying to teach people concepts such as this with the purpose of getting them to use them, teaching them root history of a concept is often a detractor. It’s interesting, but not useful, and turns many people off. Just a bit of advice there for people trying to educate folks on the concepts.

Thanks for sharing,

Jamie Flinchbaugh
http://www.jamieflinchbaugh.com