Definitionv1
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle: a four-step scientific
Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle: a four-step scientific process for iterative improvement consisting of Plan (identify gap and hypothesize change), Do (implement change on small scale), Check (measure results), and Act (adopt, modify, or abandon change based on results)
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely delineates the PDCA cycle with its four distinct steps and their functional purposes. It establishes the genus (scientific process for improvement) and differentia (specific four-step sequence with defined outcomes), making it distinguishable from related concepts like the scientific method or kaizen while maintaining curriculum consistency.