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Following international habits, the PDCA approach is most often represented graphically as a cyclic circular movement, which is why it is referred to as the ‘PDCA cycle’. In reality, however, it is not always a real cycle, nor necessarily circular.

Therefore, while also depicting here the PDCA approach as a circular movement, it should be understood as follows: whenever Tasks, which have been planned during the 'Plan' step, are carried out during the 'Do' step, 'Check' and 'Act' must also and always be applied in order to achieve the desired goals.

While reference lines (e.g. baseline, business case) are generally formed and frozen during the 'Plan' step of a Program, potential variances against them are monitored during the 'Check' step and, if and where variances have occurred, counteracted during  the 'Act' step. 

Typically, this involves starting and tracking of Actions ('Action Management') or, if that is not successful in the end, changing the reference line in question applying a controlled change process, which is then known as 'Change Management’. Note the difference between Tasks and Actions.

The PDCA-approach with its 'Action Management' and 'Change Management' must therefore be considered as inherent to all 4P Themes.