Can improvement ever be continuous?

Semantics are critical, in the same way Operational Definitions are critical. In fact, they are essentially the same. What are the Operational Definitions of Continual versus Continuous when applied to Improvement.

Dr. W. Edwards Deming was clear on this. That’s why it’s important we should reflect this when we make reference to improvement.

Can improvement be continuous?

Continuous improvement implies the improvement continues without stopping, equating to infinitely evolving improvement. Is this ever possible when improvements take step-wise changes?

We can’t make changes continuously, without pausing, reviewing the effect of our change (PDSA). It would be exhausting in every way and unsustainable, if it were possible, a perpetual state in the motion of improvement.

Continual learning from PDSA

Yet we can make continual changes: make a change, test it, study the effect and adjust based on the learning (PDSA). From there, make the next change for testing. Stop-start, even if it is for an infinitesimally small moment, pause we must to reflect on the change’s impact each time.

Not every change makes for an improvement, whilst the process is continual for learning, which eventually leads to improvement.

My favourite analogy on this comes from a discussion between Bill Bellows and Ed Baker (two distinguished and practical intellects versed in Dr. Deming’s thinking, amongst others).

Another way of visualising this from their exchange is imagining the effect of a change as a step (either up or down) and reaching a plateau, before another change is needed to step to another plateau. This would be ‘continual’, a staggered effect each time. With continuous improvement, changes would never achieve a plateau, they would keep going, to infinity. Is that ever possible?

References
https://deming.org/an-ongoing-conversation-with-ed-baker-episode-1-january-28-2019/