Lean is about streamlining or eliminating waste, while Six Sigma, as we all know, is keeping variation at bay by improving processes and using statistical tools.
During this time that cost cutting is the order of the day, the two combined can come in handy.
In an article on CIO News-Search CIO, in the IT field, CIOs are enjoined to apply Lean Six Sigma to their cost cutting measures.
In lean times, CIOs should apply Lean Six Sigma practices to IT operations, the panel said. In the case of incident management, change management and release configurations that have been codified by frameworks like the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), applying lean thinking should be par for the course. On the other hand, in application development, which is more of a “moving target” and less mature, applying lean thinking is much more difficult. But it should be done, by keeping value uppermost in mind. Resources should be focused on the people who can really add value to the process.
A lean IT organization is also continually evaluating systems and processes for “overkill,” said principal analyst Marc Cecere. A 700-person IT shop that requires 18 signatures on every approval is an example of overkill, Cecere said. In addition, every problem does not deserve its own process, he added, urging CIOs to adopt the “Kill stupid rules” policy of one of his clients.
Cost cutting and determining where to cut costs is a highly sensitive matter. Thus, it has to be done with a sound system in place. Lean Six Sigma can do the trick. The methodology helps you identify the problem and determine which areas do not yield value, and then you can work on it.
Via: iSixSigma News
