Scottish Improvement Skills
PDSA Simulation:
Tennis Balls
Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland
Model for Improvement
The Improvement
Guide Langley J et al
2009
Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland
System of Profound Knowledge
Deming 2000
Planning a test of change
using the PDSA framework
By the end of this session you will be able
to:
• explain all stages of the PDSA
framework to others (planning, including
theory and prediction; analysing results;
applying learning to next cycles)
Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland
PDSA Simulation
Aim:
In the fastest
possible time,
pass the ball to
each person in the
group.
The Rules
1. The ball must be thrown diagonally. You may not throw the ball
to the person next to you.
2. You must call out the name of the person you are throwing it
to.
3. Each person must receive the ball once.
4. If someone drops the ball you must start again from the
beginning. The timer will not be stopped.
5. If you restart the process, the ball must follow the same order
of passing as the previous attempt.
6. The last person to receive the ball must be the starter. This is
when the process and timer will stop.
7. If you break any of these rules you must start again. The timer
will not be stopped.
Record keeping
Test
Aim of test
1
To pass the
ball to every
member in the
group in the
least possible
time, sticking
to the rules
2
3
4
5
Theory/
plan
Prediction
(time)
Actual
time
Observations What we will do
next time
PDSA Simulation
Aim:
In the fastest
possible time,
pass the ball to
each person in the
group.
Simulation: key points
• Knowledge is gained through testing
• Tests should be small, rapid, and sequential
• Theory and prediction must precede every
test
• Review following the test is essential
• Learning from other teams can accelerate
learning
• Measurement does not have to be hard
• Data aids learning.
Quality Education for a Healthier Scotland