Question

The interaction life cycle is based on the PDCA-cycle.

Describe what the PDCA-cycle is and what it is used for.

What does it imply that it is a cycle? Make an assumption – why is the interaction life cycle based on the PDCA-cycle do you think?

Answer 1

PDCA cycle is Plan-Do-Check-Act. It is an iterative process that is it is a repetitive process or a loop process. It is used in business processes for analyzing and re-analyzing processes, plans, and actions. It is also known as the Shewhart cycle or Deming cycle or control cycle.

The various components are

1. Plan – Though it is a cycle, this can be said as the first step. Before beginning any process or activity, one must make a few observations with respect to resources, finance, and time. And then the activity or process or project needs to be planned.
2. Do – Once planning is done; a pilot study or small-scale study is performed. Observations are again made with respect to results and expectations and performance. Changes are implemented and tested again, and the results are gathered.
3. Check – Data gathered during the previous step is analyzed with experts. It is then compared with previous processes or with expectations.
4. Act – From the previous steps, any discrepancies are recorded, and measures are taken to reduce the errors and deviations. Troubleshooting is performed. Various measures are taken to improve the process in the next cycle. The best among the various tested process is finally implemented and again the cycle begins.

Uses of PDCA cycle

1. Used when starting a new process which might take a lot of finance, time, and labor. This cycle is performed on a small-scale level to help understand how the outcome would be.
2. During the improvement of a product or service.
3. To incorporate consistency.
4. To improve quality.
5. To check for performance of an ongoing process or study.

It is implied as a cycle because it is a continuous process. It is termed as an iterative or loop process.

The interactive life cycle is based on PDCA cycle because the principle of both is the same. People make decisions on a daily basis – some small some big. But every time, we learn something out of it. Good decisions help us grow in our life and bad decisions teach us a lesson. These decisions have to be analyzed every time we have to make any new decisions.

When we want to buy any new dress, we make plans regarding the shop or location or material, etc. Once that is done, we buy a dress which is not very expensive. It is like a test drive. Once the fitting is fine, the material is good and other aspects are as per expectation, we progress towards buying another little more expensive one. If the outcome is not as per expectations, we re-assess and plan again.

Like in case of the butterfly, it lays eggs which transform into a caterpillar which then transform into a pupa and then a butterfly comes out of it which again lays eggs. The life cycle continues just as a PDCA cycle.

Interactive cycle – eggs then caterpillar then pupa then butterfly then eggs.

It is a repetitive and iterative process. The interactive life cycle is very much like the PDCA cycle or one can easily argue that it is based on the PDCA cycle.