PDCA - A Model for Navigating Change

As part of my doctoral program I developed a project for addressing the process through which churches can navigate seasons of change.  Deming's Model has been very helpful in times past and I share it here as a process for navigating change not only in the church, but in any area of our lives.

Deming’s PDCA Model for carrying out change.  Developed as a business model for continuous improvement, I have found this model to be an excellent process guide for working through change in the church.

Plan. Recognize an opportunity and plan a change.

Do. Test the change. Carry out a small-scale study.

Check. Review the test, analyze the results and identify what you’ve learned.

Act. Take action based on what you learned in the study step: If the change did not work, go through the cycle again with a different plan. If you were successful, incorporate what you learned from the test into wider changes. Use what you learned to plan new improvements, beginning the cycle again.*

* Source: http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/project-planning-tools/overview/pdca-cycle.html, (accessed January 30, 2013).

Applying the Model for Working Through Change in the Church or Life…

Plan. Pray and establish a clear sense of vision and direction. Determine necessary changes to be made.

Do. Launch the changes slowly and as small steps.  Crawling always proceeds walking and running!

Check. Evaluate response, buy-in, mission/vision understanding, and make adjustments as needed.

Act. Implement change as the Lord leads through the process, and repeat the process over and again as you continue seeking to fulfill the mission/vision for the church!

Refocus

In his book Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin shares this thought: "God hasn't called us to be successful or popular -- He's called us to be faithful." In a culture and age that is driven to following the successful and popular, I wonder how much would change in the church if we only sought after the faithful?

Too often the church seems enamored by those who get the highest ratings or draw the largest crowds. But what about those who serve in the relative obscurity of the smaller crowds with the ordinary facilities and the not so flashy programming and ministries? What about those who have never written a book, or spoken at a conference, or got their name quoted by some big name star in the mega-church movement? What about the guys who still make their own hospital calls, and still perform the weddings at their church, and still bury the saints and conduct the board meetings, and vacuum the carpets and occasionally clean the bathrooms? Are they any less successful? Should they be deemed any less popular or significant?

I believe that the church has largely lost its focus. We are attracted to all the wrong things. Jesus never called us to be successful or popular as Bob Kauflin writes! He called us to be faithful...and my heart's pledge to Him is that will be my daily focus as long as He gives me life and breath!