What are the "seven stages of action" and how do they relate to design?

The "seven stages of action" represent the cycle of human action: forming a goal, creating a plan, specifying the steps needed for the plan, and performing those steps (execution); then perceiving the results, interpreting their meaning, and comparing the outcome against the original goal (evaluation). Design should consider all seven stages, making it easy for users to form goals, execute actions, and understand the results. A good design bridges the "gulfs" between execution and evaluation, ensuring the user can easily operate the product and get a clear result.