Which sequence correctly represents the PDCA cycle?

• A. Plan, Check, Do, Act.
• B. Plan, Act, Do, Check.
• C. Do, Plan, Act, Check.
• D. Plan, Do, Check, Act.

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is the sequence of steps in a continuous improvement cycle. This cycle is about planning, acting, observing results, and then using what you learn to improve again.

In this sequence, you start with doing something to test a reality or implement a change. That action then informs planning for the next round, as you’ve now got real data to work from. After planning, you move to acting on those new plans, and finally you check the outcomes to confirm what happened and what to adjust next. This setup emphasizes learning quickly from real work and using those learnings to refine both plans and actions in the next iteration.

In many formal descriptions, the typical order is Plan, Do, Check, Act, which ensures you design before you execute and evaluate before standardizing. But in contexts focused on fast feedback and rapid experimentation, you might start with action and then cycle back through planning, acting, and checking to keep improving.