Blog Posts

What is Maurer change model?

10/29/2021

Change management is an important component of business transformation and continuous improvement projects. And it is vital that change management be successful in order for transformation and continuous improvement to happen and sustain.

Several factors impact success with change management. Maurer change model is a bit different than other change models because it focuses on the cause factors that impact change i.e. why a change management project may fail. Once the cause factors are known change managers can then take appropriate steps to ensure change happens smoothly. Checkout this video to know more about- What is Maurer change model?

This video belongs to my YouTube video series- One-minute guide to continuous improvement where I explain various topics related to continuous improvement for operational excellence and business growth.

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What is Nudge theory change management model for organizational change?

10/26/2021

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Change management is an important component of business transformation and continuous improvement projects. And it is vital that change management be successful in order for transformation and continuous improvement to happen and sustain.

Several factors impact success with change management. One important such factor is employee resistance. And Nudge theory polishes this aspect to bring-on a smooth change. Checkout this video to know more about- What is Nudge theory change management model for organizational change?

This video belongs to my YouTube video series- One-minute guide to continuous improvement where I explain various topics related to continuous improvement for operational excellence and business growth.

Watch on …

Are you ready to implement Continuous Improvement at your organization?

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FAQ 15- Will Agile methodology replace Lean Six Sigma in today’s fast business environment?

10/25/2021

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This multi-part blogpost series presents practical answers to frequently asked questions on improving business entities.

frequently asked questions on continuous improvement

Its objective is to assist business leaders in these trying times, whether they are learning the basics of business process improvement, planning their first business improvement project, or evangelizing process-oriented thinking throughout their organization.

So, let’s get started …

Will Agile methodology replace Lean Six Sigma in today’s fast business environment? This question is relative to the industry and desired outcome.

For instance, lack of documentation and control metrics of Agile methodology would be risky to an aerospace parts production line or a highly regulated business such as pharmaceutical manufacturing or banking.

While an advertising firm may find Lean Six Sigma methodology stifle its creativity.

In general, business leaders have been known to prefer the fast pace Agile promises. However, my recommendation to them is that- automating a process through Agile methodology without proper understanding or documenting about how to stabilize, measure and control the process, will be fraught with the problems, generate cynical employees and frustrated customers.

Lean Six Sigma is about determining critical customer needs, root causes of failure, brainstorming to get solutions and then implementing them correctly.

Agile is only about fast iterative implementation of a known solution (through customer feedback) to a process/ product/ service.

In my opinion as a successful Continuous Improvement consultant, Lean Six Sigma must be combined with Agile to achieve best rewards.

That is, solutions identified from Lean Six Sigma methodology campaigns should be implemented using Agile method. This is an excellent win-win combination.

Another advantage is that Agile-Lean Six Sigma combination can be flawlessly applied to organizations from any industry sector.

Check out more about Agile, Lean Six Sigma and eighteen different business process improvement techniques here.

I shall discuss more FAQs concerning effective & efficient business process improvement in upcoming parts of this blog post series...

By the way, if you run a company that is facing a challenge to thrive in these difficult times, I would suggest that you please revisit your business processes in order to accelerate growth and bring a quick turnaround.

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What is Satir change model?

10/22/2021

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Change management is an important component of business transformation and continuous improvement projects. And it is vital that change management be successful in order for transformation and continuous improvement to happen and sustain.

Several factors impact success with change management, an important one being selection of the change model. There over twenty proven change models facilitating organizational change and Satir change model is one such important change management tool.

Satir change model explains the various stages of emotional progression people may experience due to the proposed organizational change. Knowing this can help change leaders implement change framework more efficiently, empathically and achieve success faster. Checkout this video to know more about- What is Satir change model?

This video belongs to my YouTube video series- One-minute guide to continuous improvement where I explain various topics related to continuous improvement for operational excellence and business growth.

Watch on …

Are you ready to implement Continuous Improvement at your organization?

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What is McKinsey 7S change management model?

10/19/2021

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FAQ 14- What is the biggest challenge to applying Six Sigma in the Service industry? Does Six Sigma compulsorily demand achieving 3.6 million or lesser defects per million opportunities (dpmo)?

10/18/2021

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This multi-part blogpost series presents practical answers to frequently asked questions on improving business entities.

Its objective is to assist business leaders in these trying times, whether they are learning the basics of business process improvement, planning their first business improvement project, or evangelizing process-oriented thinking throughout their organization.

So, let’s get started …

Six Sigma can be applied to service industry. Though, variety of engagements faced by service firms makes it more difficult to apply Six Sigma. Yet Six Sigma methodology has been successfully applied in service sectors be it airlines, health care, banking, restaurant chains, IT, call center management, etc.

One of the biggest challenges to applying Six Sigma in a service industry is high number of variations than a standard product manufacturing process. This is because, service quality is ‘perceived’ by an individual, as against ‘use’ of a standard product.

One may not require applying all Six Sigma tools to all service process. For example Minitab application is un-necessary for a service process improvement. However, the general concept of Six Sigma can certainly be applied successfully.

Hence, metrics score of 3.6 million or lesser defects per million opportunities is efficiently achievable for manufacturing processes rather than service processes.

In addition, the return on investment (ROI) achieved from a Six Sigma service process, usually, has been found not worth the input cost for the transformation.

Service industries usually aim lower than 3.6 million dpmo metric score. The Cost–Need quotient is often evaluated prior to rebalancing the existing process to a 3.6 million dpmo level.

To clarify this point, let me take example of two important processes within Air transportation service industry- the first one is, landing gear assembly-operation for planes, while second one, is correct passenger bag arrivals at destination, on time.

The first process has to be a complete Six Sigma process i.e. with less than or equal to 3.6 million dpmo score, since, any failure of landing-gear operations can result in a plane crash catastrophe!

As regards the second process- i.e. passenger bag arrivals, one needs to check out what is the level of existing process on a sigma scale. Then calculate costs involved for transformation, its impact on business, potential loss of business due to unsatisfied customers, etc. and decide appropriately. Usually airlines follow 3- sigma level for baggage handling processes.

In my decade-long experience as a successful Continuous Improvement consultant, Lean Six Sigma methodology (instead of Six Sigma) works best in the service industry, showing great results, from doing the basics right, as well as cutting down waste and variations in the end-to-end process.

Check out more about Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and eighteen different business process improvement techniques here.

I shall discuss more FAQs concerning effective & efficient business process improvement in upcoming parts of this blog post series...

By the way, if you run a company that is facing a challenge to thrive in these difficult times, I would suggest that you please revisit your business processes in order to accelerate growth and bring a quick turnaround.

Get In Touch

Follow Shruti on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn