Prepare

During the initial stage, the preparation phase, it is crucial to figure out what exactly needs to be done, how it should be done, and who will be responsible for carrying it out. Doing so can avoid wasting resources such as time and money on misplaced efforts. As a part of the preparation process, the team should evaluate the readiness for change and determine which proposed changes would best serve the system's needs. The outcome of this preparation is the ability to involve stakeholders in the improvement process.