What Is Continuous Improvement?

Continuous improvement is a process aimed at consistently enhancing performance and refining methods within individuals and organisations. It involves a commitment to ongoing growth and innovation, fostering a mindset that embraces change and learns from mistakes. 

Through continuous improvement, we strive for excellence by systematically identifying areas for improvement and implementing small, incremental changes. These include reducing waste, removing inefficiencies, and improving working relationships. 

4 stages of the continuous improvement cycle

Together, the four stages in the continuous improvement cycle provide a framework to help you identify areas for improvement and make the necessary changes to achieve the desired results. These stages are often referred to as PDCA: 

• Plan: Set goals for change and plan the steps.

• Do: Put the plan into action.

• Check: Check whether the changes have the desired results.

• Act: If the changes are effective, apply them to the whole organisation and continue the cycle.

Continuous improvement methods

Continuous improvement plays a crucial role in project management by fostering an environment of learning, adaptability, and optimisation throughout the project lifecycle. Many commonly used project management methodologies employ continuous improvement:

Lean

This methodology, created for manufacturing, is primarily used for continuous improvement. It focuses on eliminating waste, maximising efficiency, fostering idea sharing, and facilitating user learning. 

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a rigorous and data-driven approach to continuous improvement that aims to reduce process variation and defects. It utilises a structured methodology to identify and eliminate errors, improve performance, and enhance customer satisfaction. 

Kanban

Kanban is a visual and pull-based methodology that promotes continuous improvement by focusing on workflow transparency, limiting work in progress (WIP), and optimising cycle times.

Total quality management

Total quality management (TQM) is a comprehensive management approach that emphasises continuous improvement, customer focus, and the involvement of all employees in achieving high-quality outcomes. 

Kaizen

Kaizen, a Japanese term meaning "change for the better" or "continuous improvement," is a philosophy and methodology that focuses on making incremental and continuous improvements in all aspects of an organisation.

Related terms

• Six Sigma

• Agile

• Dependency

• Minimum viable product

Become a project manager with Google

Continuous improvement is a vital process of making small, incremental changes to improve performance and efficiency. By consistently striving for improvement, individuals and organisations can achieve excellence and remain competitive. 

If continuous improvement is something you’d like to learn more about, consider the Google Project Management Professional Certificate on Coursera. Build essential skills in project management and methodologies to get job-ready at your own pace in as little as six months. Learn from industry experts at Google as you earn a credential for your CV.