Project Management

1) Why And How To Add More Value To Six Sigma Project Charters
In effect, it basically helps to ensure the timely completion of implementation projects, a prerequisite for deriving the associated benefits. What's In a Project Charter? Well, even though they are important, the irony is that there are no set standards as far as the content of a project charter is concerned. The content varies depending on the type of industry and may include a mix of the... » read more

2) An Overview of Lean Six Sigma Training
However, the Lean Six Sigma strategy is characterized by the fact that it uses both, the Six Sigma strategy as well as the Lean Manufacturing methodology. In this case, the Lean methodology mainly aims at quickness and efficiency of the work done, whereas the Six Sigma strategy mainly focuses on elimination of defects and improving the quality of the products. Therefore, once both these methodologies... » read more

3) Why Six Sigma Is Preferred The World Over
Many businesses that have implemented Six Sigma are now deriving the associated benefits such as improved quality, enhanced efficiency and near-perfect business processes that do not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities that might exist for such defects to occur. All this, despite the fact that the concept itself has undergone various changes over the years, mainly to accommodate the... » read more

4) Why Offshore outsourcing to India ?
India has emerged as a major outsourcing hub for software development worldwide. The business is growing at a healthy pace of 30%. Offshore outsourcing to India is one of the most popular management practices today. Though it is generally spurred by the cost reduction factor, this is just one of the reasons one should consider offshore outsourcing. Most parties who outsource are unaware that Indian... » read more

5) PRINCE2 History and Overview
I am often asked questions about the Prince2 methodology, so I thought I should jot down a few notes about it. The project Management methodology PRINCE2 started life in 1975 as PROMPT2 (Project, Resource, Organisation, Management and Planning Technique) developed by Simpact Systems Ltd, a UK company. Four years later in 1979 PROMPT2 was adopted by another UK Company CCTA (Central Computer and... » read more

6) Business Planning With Six Sigma
DMAIC stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. Here we analyze how these steps can streamline the business planning process. Define This is the phase that requires attention to VOC, which is "voice of the customer". Here you are the customer since the business plan is meant to serve you. There are other minor customers, such the government, partners and shareholders etc., and all... » read more

7) Five Key Features of Project Management Software
Success of your business today depends on a variety of factors, and having very good management project software may well be one of them. That is because competition is fierce, and time and resource management is a very important issue. Companies need to find a very good balance between getting the projects done and getting them done with as small amount of resources as possible. And this is management... » read more

8) Adopting a Process -- Tips for Helping Your Team Adapt
So you have decided to adopt a more formal process for getting your projects done, congratulations. It is a good decision that will help you better manage your projects, make your team more efficient and improve your chances of coming in on schedule and on budget. Most process methodologies do a fine job at covering the process; however they rarely address the real world issues encountered when a formal... » read more

9) Matrix Organizations, What Are They?
Until the 1970's, typical, large organizations tended to function in "silos", logical divisions where essentially isolated groups of workers reported to a line manager or functional manager. Imagine columns on a page with a line manager at the top of each column and a group of workers inside each column under the manager. As these groups operated autonomously, it was not unusual to find functions... » read more

10) Fundamentals Of Six Sigma Training
Six Sigma professionals have the requisite expertise and experience in implementing Six Sigma projects and their services are necessary for ensuring the success of the implementations. However, not all organizations can afford such services because 6 Sigma professionals normally charge hefty fees. The best option then for such organizations is to provide Six Sigma training to their existing employees.... » read more

11) Effective Online Six Sigma Training
Six Sigma training is beneficial to employees as well as the organization as a whole. However, since 6 Sigma training is expensive, many organizations stay away from it. Online training is the best answer to all these problems. It is cost effective and flexible. The aim behind implementing Six Sigma is to design near-perfect business processes, which will boost overall business performance. However,... » read more

12) Construction Management Study
Construction management is the study and practice of managerial and technological factors in the industry of construction. This includes construction, the science of construction, construction management and technology in construction. Construction management also refers to a business representation wherein a crew to a construction contract serves as a consultant to the construct, hereby providing design... » read more

13) Construction Waste Management
Have you notice how construction sites generate those considerable piles of heap everyday. It is not surprising really, as construction materials get to be trimmed, reshape and recast a lot before being integrated into a structure. And these discarded pilings do tend to get large swiftly. Construction Waste Management is the practice of reducing the actual waste that go to the dump site. Waste reduction... » read more

14) Construction Project Management Courses
An industry that continues to grow and shows only a little sign of slowing, the construction industry competitive world are in need of construction professionals who are equipped with skills and the know-how to effectively carry out the assigned job. So, if you are planning to choose a career in the field of construction management, might as well take up a program that will help you excel, like the... » read more

15) Black Belt Strategies For Small Businesses
Utilizing The Skills Of Black Belts Most people believe that Six Sigma is for large organizations and is not cost effective for small businesses. However, this is just a misconception because 6 Sigma concepts and methodologies can be tweaked to make them deployable in small business organizations as well. Deploying 6 Sigma in small businesses has been made possible with the development of new tools and... » read more

16) How To Manage Six Sigma Teams
Six Sigma is a continuous procedure, which can help companies reduce the over all expenses and expenditures, and increase profits by streamlining operations, improving quality and eliminating all the problem areas. Not only does 6 Sigma benefit an organization, but also the organization can benefit Six Sigma by managing it. Management must be led by highly qualified and trained individuals. Managing a... » read more

17) Six Sigma Training 101- Guide To Better Management
Six Sigma is a program that deals with quality management and is designed to achieve an outstanding level of quality for products. Motorola was the first company to pioneer this process in the mid-eighties and since then it has been adopted by many other companies and manufacturers. Service companies, in order to enhance customer service and relations also utilize these strategies. 6 Sigma has evolved from... » read more

18) IDOV Methodology Of Six Sigma
IDOV is a commonly used Six Sigma methodology and stands for Identify, Design, Optimize and Verify. It is a variant of DFSS or Design For Six Sigma, which is used for designing a completely new product or business process to meet customer needs and specifications or to achieve Six Sigma quality levels. As a methodology, IDOV is very different from DMAIC or define, measure, analyze, improve and control,... » read more

19) Six Sigma Deployment
Six Sigma can be successfully deployed in any industry irrespective of size. 6 Sigma concepts are designed in accordance with the basic characteristics of a business and not the size of a business. Businesses that do not have adequate resources for deploying Six Sigma can get help from 6 Sigma professionals such as Black Belts or Master Black Belts who have plenty of experience in deploying Six Sigma.... » read more

20) Six Sigma Myths
Six Sigma uses statistical analysis and data to formulate a disciplined method to improve the company's operations. This is done after identifying and eliminating errors in the manufacturing and service related processes. Some of the common myths regarding 6 Sigma are: Six Sigma Is A Quality Management Initiative The idea that 6 Sigma is a quality management initiative is believed to have originated... » read more

21) Role Of Six Sigma In Enterprise Cost Reduction
Motorola, Allied Signal, GE and Honeywell are some the companies that started and refined the Six Sigma quality concept. The methodology includes the use of an advanced set of tools, designed to solve problems faced by the company and improvement in the quality of work. Enterprise Cost Reduction Companies should conduct a thorough check of the costs involved, in the same way that they view revenue... » read more

22) Guide To Outsourcing
Those who are considering outsourcing portions of work for the first time may be feeling overwhelmed and hesitant about the concept of relying on someone outside the company to complete work related tasks. The discomfort with deciding whether or not to outsource work stems largely from ignorance about the process of outsourcing. This article will serve as a guide to those who are considering... » read more

23) Defining Six Sigma Projects
Six Sigma projects can be defined as the process through which companies are able to reduce defects and improve the quality of business processes. However, the success of any Six Sigma project depends on a number of factors such as clearly defined objectives, management support and approval, and proper training of Six Sigma teams associated with the project. For ensuring the success of Six Sigma... » read more

24) Short Cuts To Six Sigma Success
Six Sigma is usually associated with the complete overhaul of existing business processes, to reduce shortcomings and improve the quality of goods and services. Due to this belief, many companies with insufficient resources often avoid implementing the 6 Sigma concepts and methodologies in their business processes. These companies are often unaware that the Six Sigma concepts and methodologies can also be... » read more

25) Six Sigma and ISO 9000: How To Choose
Businesses that want to improve overall quality are often faced with the difficult task of selecting the most effective quality improvement technique from available options such as Six Sigma and ISO 9000. For selecting the most suitable technique, businesses will have to look at the merits of each of these techniques and determine their applicability in the context of existing business processes. This is... » read more

26) Essential Six Sigma Software
Six Sigma implementation projects involve the collection and analysis of huge amounts of raw statistical data related to various aspects of a given business process. Collection and analysis of raw statistical data is necessary because it helps in the decision making process. Decisions that are backed by figures and statistics are more likely to produce desired results as compared to decisions that are... » read more

27) The Effectiveness Of Online Six Sigma Training
Six Sigma concepts and methodologies are deployed in an organization through project implementations. The basic objective of all Six Sigma implementations is to reduce wastage by improving the efficiency of existing business processes. The aim is to design near-perfect business processes wherein the number of defects is no more than 3.4 per million opportunities that exist for such defects to occur.... » read more

28) Six Sigma As A Management Program
Six Sigma is a quality improvement technique that was originally devised by the Motorola Company in the 1970's. At that time, U.S. companies were facing stiff competition from Japanese companies that somehow managed to manufacture better quality products. The Motorola Company realized this when a Japanese firm took over its television manufacturing unit and drastically improved quality by reducing the... » read more

29) Six Sigma Parameters
Information related to predetermined Six Sigma parameters is issued by the senior management through a document known as the "project charter". Aside from defining the Six Sigma parameters, the project charter also acts as an authorization certificate, allowing the project manager to allocate organizational resources towards the completion of the implementation projects. What Exactly Is A Project... » read more

30) Six Sigma Technology Online
Six Sigma quality improvement concepts and methodologies were originally devised for use in the manufacturing sector but with the development of newer technologies, it is now increasingly being implemented in the services sector as well. The basic aim of Six Sigma implementation projects is to reduce wastage of scarce resources by reducing the number of defects to less than 3.4 per million... » read more

31) Six Sigma And The Small Or Home Based Business
Although Six Sigma was originally devised as a quality improvement technique for the manufacturing industry, it is now increasingly being adopted by the services industry as well. The basic concepts and methodologies are more or less the same in the services sector where they are applied to both operational and non-operational processes. Defining Six Sigma Motorola was the first company to develop... » read more

32) Six Sigma Metrics And How to Devise Them
Six Sigma quality improvement techniques lay stress on the use of mathematical and statistical tools that help in developing better quality products and services suited to the needs and requirements of customers. The aim is to achieve near perfect business processes wherein the number of defects are reduced to 3.4 per million opportunities that exist for such defects to occur. Reduced defects naturally... » read more

33) Overcoming Six Sigma Controversies
Six Sigma is a quality improvement technique that aims at reducing wastage by restricting the number of defects to not more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities that might exist for such defects to occur. Reduced wastage naturally results in lower production costs, which in turn helps an organization to maximize profits. Six Sigma also helps in developing customer loyalty and satisfaction because... » read more

34) Six Sigma Tools For Process Control
Six Sigma implementations aim at achieving near perfect production wherein the number of defects is substantially reduced. However, implementations are definitely not easy because they often require a major overhaul of existing business processes, which in turn requires extensive analysis and documentation. Understanding The Six Sigma Pyramid Six Sigma quality levels can be described with the help... » read more

35) Telling the Truth about Project Leadership
A regional claim center of a major insurance company was in big trouble. It's customer service rating was a miserable 58%, entirely unacceptable. A senior manager was brought in to lead a critical turnaround project. After experiencing a Leadership workshop, the approach he took was very simple, so simple that he attracted lots of naysayers, lots of pushback from all directions within the organization. » read more

36) The Best Way To Create Product Specifications
When a business plan to have a product and decide to outsource the activity the big mistake is not to have a contract in place with the supplier and good product specifications. The product specifications should, or better let's say, must be an annex to the contract or agreement: black on white! Many people have no or do not want to spend the necessary time to have a good start when outsourcing a... » read more

37) Do You Want To Discover The Truth About Your Projects ?
The different types of project review each have their own characteristics and benefits. For any review however it is important to decide what the overall purpose is, and who should gain what from the output. This step is missed out in many cases and the design of the review is not given sufficient attention. Standard methodologies for carrying out project reviews can be helpful, but must be supplemented by... » read more

38) How to Choose a Six Sigma Black Belt Project
Selecting the most appropriate Six Sigma Black Belt project is the most common problem faced by students who enroll themselves in a Six Sigma training course. The project is necessary as it helps students learn the practical aspects of Six Sigma implementation programs. The project is conducted either before the commencement of the training program or during the first week. Identifying A... » read more

39) Cutting Costs With Six Sigma
Problems Faced By Companies On The Cost Front On the cost front, most industries such as the manufacturing industry, service industry, health care industry and even the educational industry are all experiencing a great amount of pressure. As an example, hospitals are facing ever-decreasing compensation from insurance companies, which is a serious concern to many. Hospitals also experience the pressure... » read more

40) Six Sigma For The Service Sector
Introduction 6 Sigma is all about quality improvement and was first pioneered by Motorola in the 1980s. Over the last few years, this methodology has received much recognition and several companies have adopted it in order to meet their targets. Six Sigma's clientele include a long list of well-established manufacturers like General Motors, Ford Motor Co., GE, Honeywell and many more. However, there are... » read more