Decision cycle

A decision cycle is a sequence of steps used by an entity on a repeated basis to reach and implement decisions.

• Within the United States military, a theory of an Observe–Orient–Decide–Act (OODA) loop has been advocated by Colonel John Boyd.
• In quality control, plan–do–check–act is used.
• In science, the scientific method (hypothesis–experiment–evaluation, or plan–do–check) can also be seen as a decision cycle.
• In the nursing process, the ADPIE (Assessment–Diagnosis–Planning–Implementation–Evaluation) process is used. This has a suggested revision, in the ASPIRE (Assessment–Systematic Nursing Diagnosis–Planning–Implementation–'Recheck'–Evaluation) model, to include an additional stage—'Recheck'—in between 'Implementation' and 'Evaluation'.