Process Decision Programme Chart (PDPC)

The Process Decision Program Chart (often just called PDPC) is a very simple tool with an unnecessarily impressive sounding name, possibly derived from the Japanese name, from where it came as one of the '7 Management Tools’.
A useful way of planning is to break down tasks into a hierarchy, using a Tree Diagram. PDPC simply extends this chart a couple of levels to identify risks and countermeasures for the bottom level tasks, as in the diagram below. Different shaped boxes are used to highlight the risks and and countermeasures (they are often shown as 'clouds' to indicate their uncertain nature).
Using PDPC is using a little rigour to identify possible problems and countermeasure in each area before diving into action.



1. Break down the task into a Tree Diagram. The bottom 'leaves' on the tree will now indicate the actual tasks to be carried out.
2. For each bottom-level task 'leaf', brainstorm or otherwise identify a list of possible problems that could occur.
3. Select one or a few of the risks identified in step 2 to put on the diagram, based on a combination of probability of the risk occuring and the potential impact, should the risk materialise.
4. For each risk selected in step, brainstorm or otherwise identify possible countermeasures that you could take to minimise the effect of the risk.
5. Select a practical subset of countermeasures identified in step 4 to put on the chart.
6. Continue building the chart as above, finding risks and countermeasures for each task. If there are a large number of tasks, you can simplify the task by only doing this for tasks that are considered to be at risk or where the impact of their failure would be alarge.

- Adapted from http://syque.com/quality_tools/tools/TOOLS12.htm