Once a team has mapped a process, set a goal, developed measures and a data collection plan and selected changes, the next step is to test those small changes using the Plan, Do, Study, Act, or PDSA, cycle. It's a quick way to improve work processes that allows teams to rapidly test a change on a small scale. Risk taking is encouraged and failures are OK because the team learns from them.

Leaders can coach their team to:

• Think big, test small;
• Survey team members on how the change is working;
• Understand that controlled failure is OK - it's a chance for the team to learn;
• Debrief failures so they are learning experiences, not humiliations. Ask: "What did we learn? How could we have done this differently? What will we do now?"
• Celebrate success early and often.

PDSA steps

• Plan. Plan the test or observation, including how to collect data.
  • State the objective of the test;
  • Make predictions about what will happen and why;
  • Use a baseline – create one, if needed; 
  • Develop a plan to test the change (what data will be collected, who will collect it, when and where will it be collected).
• Do. Try out the test on a small scale.
  • Carry out the test;
  • Document problems and observations, expected and unexpected;
  • Begin analysis of the data.
• Study. Set aside time to analyze the data and study the results.
  • Compete the analysis of data;
  • Compare the data to your predictions;
  • Summarize and reflect on what was learned.
• Act. Refine the change, based on what was learned from the test.
  • Determine what modifications should be made;
  • Prepare a plan for the next test.

Source: Institute for Health Improvement

PDSA Chart