Looking at three implementation approaches and the importance of the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle.
Implementation as a series of cycles
Implementation should be carried out using PDSA methods. We shouldn’t expect to see failures when we move to implementation. Implementation cycles usually require more time than testing cycles.
There are a variety of approaches to implementation depending on the complexity and the risks involved, and the PDSA cycle is required for all approaches.
Three implementation approaches
“Just do it”
In some cases, the change idea may be so simple that to implement it the team should adopt the “just do it” approach. An example of such a change might be the implementation of a flow diagram for a new process. If the system is large or the change is complex, one of the following approaches should be considered.
Parallel
Business cannot always stop during implementation. A solution is to implement changes while the business continues. We can phase in the new way of working needs in parallel to the existing system. Running two systems in parallel should reduce some of the risks and allow people to see how effective the new system is.
Sequential
When the change comprises multiple components, a sequential implementation of the various components over time may work best. A sequential approach should not be used if the change cannot work without all its components.
