Which of the following is NOT done in the PLAN stage of the PDCA cycle?

In the PDCA cycle, which stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, the PLAN stage focuses on establishing a framework for what needs to be achieved before any action is taken. This involves defining the project scope, identifying resources needed, and setting quality goals to align the team and the objectives towards the intended outcomes.

Comparing results against targets is more aligned with the CHECK phase of the PDCA cycle. This phase is where data is collected and analyzed to ascertain whether the actions taken during the DO phase met the initially set goals and objectives. Therefore, this activity does not occur in the PLAN stage; instead, it is a critical component of evaluating performance in the CHECK stage.