Adecision cycle ordecision loop^[1] is a sequence of steps used by an entity on a repeated basis toreach and implement decisions and to learn from the results. The "decision cycle" phrase has a history of use to broadly categorize various methods of making decisions, going upstream to the need, downstream to the outcomes, and cycling around to connect the outcomes to the needs.

A decision cycle is said to occur when an explicitly specifieddecision model is used to guide adecision and then the outcomes of that decision are assessed against the need for the decision. This cycle includes specification of desired results (the decision need), tracking of outcomes, and assessment of outcomes against the desired results.

• Inquality control,PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) is used.^[2]
• Inscience, thescientific method (Observation–Hypothesis–Experiment–Evaluation) can also be seen as a decision cycle.^[3][4]
• In theUnited States Armed Forces, a theory of anOODA loop (Observe–Orient–Decide–Act) has been advocated by ColonelJohn Boyd.^[5]
• In thelean startup methodology, theBuild-Measure-Learn loop is used to guide product development.^[6]
• Inmanagement,Herbert A. Simon proposed a decision cycle of three steps (Intelligence–Design–Choice).^[7] Much later, other scholars expanded his framework to five steps (Intelligence–Design–Choice–Implementation–Learning).^[8]
• Indesign thinking, thedesign process is often conceived as a decision cycle (ordesign cycle), such as Robert McKim's ETC (Express–Test–Cycle).^[9][4]
• In theGetting Things Donetime management method, workflow consists of a cycle of five stages (Collect–Process–Organize–Do–Review).^[10]
• In thenursing process, the ADPIE (Assessment–Diagnosis–Planning–Implementation–Evaluation) process is used.^[11] Alternatively, the ASPIRE (Assessment–Systematic Nursing Diagnosis–Planning–Implementation–Recheck–Evaluation) model includes an additional stage—Recheck—in between Implementation and Evaluation.^[12]
• Inpsychotherapy, thetranstheoretical model posits five stages of intentional change (Precontemplation–Contemplation–Preparation–Action–Maintenance). These stages were initially conceived as linear, butJohn C. Norcross said that for many people the stages are more appropriately viewed as a cycle (Psych–Prep–Perspire–Persist–Relapse).^[13]
• InUSAID, the use of a program cycle, "codified in the Automated Directive Systems (ADS) 201, is USAID's operational model for planning, delivering, assessing, and adapting development programming in a given region or country to achieve more effective and sustainable results in order to advance U.S. foreign policy".^[14] Relatedly, within the agency there exists resources regarding adaptive management decision cycles.^[15]

• Decision-making

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