Change Management – The Key To A Successful Digital Transformation Part 4 Blog

In the previous parts of this Change Management series, we looked into the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) concept and its application in the different stages of change management. This final part 4 will specifically focus on the “Act” stage. Change management is essential for effectively handling changes and progress within a business or organization. It is crucial for successful digital transformation and underscores the significance of efficient change management. The process begins from the grassroots level, emphasizing the necessity of a comprehensive approach.

In the first three parts of this Change Management series, we’ve covered the classic quality concept of PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) and its application during the Planning, Doing, and Checking stages of change management. We will now go deeper into the Act phase. While we have thoroughly discussed the importance of Planning, Doing, and Checking in change management, it’s time to focus on the steps of the Act phase and their impact on the outcome. The initial phases taught us how to create the Plan and put it into action through Doing and Checking, and now we need to assess if it was all worth it (Act)!

The Act phase represents the Continuous Improvement stage of PDCA. So far, our focus has been on implementing the Plan and ensuring it fulfills its intended purpose. There are multiple items to consider going into the Act phase:

• Is the new process doing what it was expected to do? If so, how close is the expectation? Can you identify what is keeping the process from being 100%?
• Performing an RCA to get closer to the ultimate (for now) results is advisable. Root-cause analysis often reveals the necessary small details that lead to sizeable jumps in productivity. (RCA deep dive for a future discussion!)
• The RCA process supports the continuous improvement initiative linked to the entire PDCA.
• Applying the lessons from the changes made to other production lines and processes is often beneficial and results faster!

Let’s discuss this last bullet point for a minute. Actually, choosing the word “bullet” is appropriate for the initial PDCA activity as the team had a singular focus on improving the process; now it is time for a more shotgun approach! A single-bullet approach (rifle) is best when solving a specific problem; choose an avenue for improvement and follow through. Once the PDCA has noted the improvement, you can apply this shotgun approach and spread your improvement findings to similar areas.

As you spread the recently gained knowledge to other parts of your organization, having a team member from the original PDCA group lead is beneficial. As the new versions of the original group are formed, a synergy is created, a multiplier effect from the positive results of the original PDCA.

Continuous improvement becomes contagious, and the return on effort (ROE) becomes substantial and faster. When you reach this maturity stage, CI becomes a part of the culture, and the teamwork pays off handsomely.

Bottom line – The Act phase of the PDCA process asks the question: was it all worth it? Act is the capstone of our PDCA cycle, but in the continuous improvement world, improvement is only temporary! To align with previous summaries, the Act phase is analogous to serving your final product, which is likely “good,” and asking, “How can we make it better?” Celebrating the project’s success and performing an RCSA (Root Cause Success Analysis) is good. Most CI groups focus on the RCFA (Root Cause Failure Analysis), but the RCSA focuses on what was done right, not wrong!

An important takeaway is never to forget why you perform a PDCA—to find improvement and success; the RCSA is one way of doing this!

InSource Solutions can help guide you through planning a successful digital transformation to ensure a successful journey. Don’t hesitate to contact us today.