Workshop given at 2010 Tulsa Area Continuous Improvement Conference hosted by BOK and MoreSteam

1. Sustaining Continuous Improvement In Times Of Change WORKSHOP, Sept. 15 2010 Generating Six Sigma Status Quo Change 2010 Tulsa Continuous Improvement Conference

4. Status Quo Change – Inside Factors Six Sigma Program Not Critical to Success Program not core to the business The value-add of your program is not “adding-up”. Savings are "paper" dollars Six Sigma savings not counted, insignificant, or not believed No problems to solve or a market need to be met You love you idea so much, but are building something nobody wants. Business enjoyed market leadership; you don’t believe in competitors Complacency, continue to believe nobody can be better at what we do Speed is a critical to quality for your business You don’t believe you can deliver any faster. You believe your creation is perfect Truth is that there are likely chinks in the armor that you have failed to see

5. Response – External or Internal Forces If your business or program suffers from any of the above symptoms, then a dose of truth and humility is the cure. Most likely, what you believe is false. In other words, that baby you feel is so angelic and perfect, is most likely pretty average looking. Acknowledge that nothing is perfect. Remember that the reason you are in the Six Sigma world is for the pursuit of perfection Get to work changing your Six Sigma Status Quo.

6. Status Quo Program Change Improve the program Fix your program, better, faster, cheaper applies to CI Find a new burning platform, align with business constraint Contribute to “Value-add” portion of business Become a new program Get new metrics get stale, loose value over time (Goodhart’s Law) Organizations get excited with new buttons – embrace flavor of the day while maintaining the old Move the program New Executive Sponsor Operationalize!

7. Workshop Responses: Six Sigma Program Change Take WIIFM seriously: Orient program to understanding and solving internal customer’s problems Act as Double Agent: When working with operations, listen and respond at that level and when working with management, listen and respond at that level. Use other’s ideas: Seek group decisions to drive both consensus, and program buy-in Do a better job cascading program through organization: Vision, goals, successes Focus on visual improvements, communicate and make public Use visual metrics, make visible broadly. Add innovation, other positive measures to program metrics, change metrics. Improve Program Accountability: - for program results, financials - process improvement ownership after the projects are complete - validate / communicate program successes Seek to reach Influencers in your organization, tie program strongly to strategic plan. Train, help frame Executive Expectations Expand Deployment Move to areas vital to organization’s health, strategy Push Belts into operations ID new benefits Engage team on Value-Add benefits Redeploy resources “saved” , i.e. headcount, to Value-Add areas

8. Brainstorm Six Sigma Status Quo Change What can be done to re-invent your Six Sigma Program to beneficially upset your program Status Quo? Group by number A team: 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25 B team: 2,5,8,11,14,17,20,23,26 C team: 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27

9. Status Quo Personal Change Change Yourself Better, faster, cheaper applies on a personal level Find a new sponsor or a new burning platform Move to a new organization Operations New company

10. Brainstorm Personal Status Quo Change What can you do to re-invent your Six Sigma Status Quo? Group by number A team: 1,5,8,10,13,17,20,21,26 B team: 2,6,9,11,12, 14,18,24,27 C team: 3,4,7,15,16,19,22,23,25

11. Status Quo Personal Change Be Observant Join Professional Groups Visit other locations, jobs Seek a mentor / be a mentor Share personal improvement goals & communication effectivenss 360 feedback for projects Seek personal feedback Video feedback Ask for and use plus/delta’s for program, training, etc. Stay flexible Read an article / day, complete your certifications Expand personal network, use LinkedIn Participate in “stretch” activities, use an unfamiliar tool Say “no” / turn of email Work on your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

12. Final Workshop Task Trade contacts with someone you don’t know and share with them what might be the very first status quo change idea you intend to use after the conference.

13. WARNING SIGNS THAT DEMAND ATTENTION