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Six Sigma Team Dynamics
Book

Six Sigma Team Dynamics

The Elusive Key to Project Success

George Eckes
Wiley, 2003
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

This book is one of the few thorough, detailed, systematic guides to team leadership in the context of Six Sigma. Those assigned to lead or participate in Six Sigma teams will find it hands-on practical and consistently useful. To use this specific approach to team management, you need to be familiar with the Six Sigma concept and process already. Then, this straightforward, explanatory manual will take you step by step, list by list, through the task of facilitating a successful team, from establishing a plan to dealing with problem personalities. It isn’t exactly juicy reading, except for the lively illustrative anecdotes, and the grammar is occasionally awkward given the jargon involved, but this focused package of instructions will help you get the job done effectively and efficiently. getAbstract.com recommends it enthusiastically to managers who are embarking upon, or already involved in, a Six Sigma team management process.

Summary

What Six Sigma Teams Need

Teams fail when they lack a leader, a focused set of goals and objectives, a clear understanding of what each member is supposed to do, an agenda, a way to come to agreements everyone can endorse or accept, ground rules, quality tools, consequences for misbehavior and punctuality.

Six Sigma teams need distinct leaders for strategy and tactics. The Champion is the strategic leader. The "tactical team leader" is called a "Black Belt" or a "Green Belt." Black Belts are full time Six Sigma professionals who may lead several teams annually. Green Belts are middle ranking managers who help lead Six Sigma teams in addition to their other responsibilities. Although senior executives won’t be part of Six Sigma teams, senior management must make it clear that Six Sigma matters.

The Champion’s work begins before the team is formed. In the process of deciding who will be on the team, the Champion should select the best and smartest people. Each one should be deeply knowledgeable about the process that the Six Sigma team will address. The quality of people on the Six Sigma team not only affects the probability of the project succeeding, it also communicates...

About the Author

George Eckes is founder, president and CEO of Colorado-based Eckes & Associates, Inc., whose client list includes JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Cisco and General Electric. He wrote The Six Sigma Revolution and Making Six Sigma Last.

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