Final answer:
The 'Do' stage in the PDCA cycle is where the quality improvement team tests a change on a small scale. Testing is crucial for evaluating the design against criteria and constraints, and the results may necessitate design refinement or iteration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage in the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle where the quality improvement team implements a small scale test of a change typically corresponds to the 'Do' phase. In this phase, a prototype or a new process is implemented on a small scale to assess its effectiveness and to identify any potential improvements. The results from this phase will inform whether the change can be applied on a larger scale or if it needs to be adjusted. This phase is critical for learning and refining the change before full implementation.
Testing and evaluating the design or change are pivotal to refining the design based on the outcomes. This iterative process ensures that the prototypes meet all constraints and perform acceptably relative to the criteria. If the design does not meet expectations, the team might need to go back to an earlier stage to revise their approach and continue testing, which is an integral part of a spiral design process.