SOFTWARE

Six Sigma

The Six Sigma Framework for IT

Introduction: Six Sigma and IT Managers

Six Sigma® has an impressive track record, with billions of dollars saved through business improvement.  But how can Six Sigma help you—the IT manager who faces multiple challenges in running an effective IT organization?

Consider this recent survey of 956 IT organizations by iSixSigma magazine, which underscores the need for an IT-centric Six Sigma Kit:

ü      55% reported that IT is a staff function in their company.

ü      45% said IT is a strategic component of business in their company.

ü      17% said their company always or usually uses Six Sigma to improve IT processes.

ü      50% reported that their company rarely or never uses Six Sigma to improve IT processes.

ü      31% reported that no Six Sigma BBs or MBBs are allocated to IT in their company.

ü      21% reported that IT personnel at their company are usually included on Six Sigma teams.

ü      58% reported that IT project development methodologies (e.g., SDLC, CMMI, PSP) are not integrated with Six Sigma methodologies.

ü      55% reported that between 1 and 25 percent of Six Sigma projects at their company are IT related.

ü      1% reported that IT is a staff function in their company and that Six Sigma is always used to improve IT processes.

Right now is the time to introduce Six Sigma to your organization.  To do this, you’ll need an easy way to provide your organization with a basic understanding of Six Sigma – what it is and how it works.

Enter the Six Sigma Action Kit for IT. Once you are familiar with the contents of this Kit, you’ll be ready to address the unique challenges your and your IT department face.  Let’s get started!

What can the Kit do for you?

The Six Sigma Action Kit for IT provides the IT Manager with practical tools for bringing Six Sigma processes to their IT organization-- even if there is no formal Six Sigma program in place.

The tools you’ll find here are user-friendly and tailored for the IT professional.  We’ve organized the Kit into the five sections:

Maturity Assessment: Are you ready for this?

This questionnaire will allow you to assess whether your IT organization is ready and able to implement a Six Sigma program.  You can also use the assessment to identify areas that you’ll need to address in order to establish a successful and sustainable program.

Education & Awareness

These documents are easy-to-read summaries of Six Sigma basics and the jargon that is associated with its processes.  You’ll find three key documents in this section, which are great to share with other members in your organization:

ü      Overview presentation on Six Sigma

ü      Factsheet on when to use DMAIC, DFSS and Lean

ü      Overview of convergence between ITIL, CMMI and Six Sigma

Leadership & Communications

Six Sigma forces a change in the way an organization thinks of its processes.  Having the right leadership and communications plan in place is essential.  To help you organize and equip members of your team, the Kit provides three documents, which outline:

ü      Different roles and responsibilities, including the role of the Champion and of different Belt Levels

ü      Talent  management, competencies and job descriptions for MBB and BB

ü      A communications and rollout plan

Six Sigma Program Management tools

This section of the Kit is where you’ll find the tactical tools you’ll use on a daily basis to implement and manage a Six Sigma program in your organization.  It includes the following resources:

ü      25 ideas of IT Six Sigma projects to jump start the program and help you identify key focus areas

ü      A project tracker to diligently track and report on your Six Sigma activities

ü      A project selection and assessment questionnaire

ü      Templates for Six Sigma project report outs

Six Sigma Management Tools

Here you’ll find a dozen tools that can come in handy as you implement the Six Sigma program into IT projects.  Here’s the list (don’t worry if you don’t know what these are…you’ll learn soon enough):

1. SIPOC (Define) / Process Mapping (Define)
2. Cause and Effect Matrix / QFD Deployment (Define)
3. Sample Size Calculator (Measure)
4. Fishbone (Analyze)
5. Pareto Analysis (Analyze)
6. 5 Whys (Analyze)
7. FMEA – Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (Analyze)
8. Software Project Risk assessment worksheet (Analyze)
9. Pugh Matrix (Analyze)

10.  Two Sample T-Test (Improve)

11.  Chi Square (Improve)

12.  Dashboards and Scorecards (Control)

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