Six Sigma & Strategic Planning

Strategic planning, as applied to Six Sigma, implies thatThe vision which begins its journey with upper
the drawing down of elaborate and systematicmanagement needs to be shared by all the
planning of areas of concerns that have far-reachingstakeholders. It may be difficult to demonstrate to
and tactical implications at the project selection stage.employees that their actions relate to customer
The purpose of strategic planning is to have producedreactions directly. Another missing link that needs to be
fundamental decisions and actions that guideconnected is the customer himself. The emphasis of
successful Six Sigma implementation.Six Sigma is on factoring in customers & engaging
An Overview Of Strategic Six Sigmathem in defining needs. Deploying employees actively
Many CEOs are skeptical about the outcome of Sixconnects these disjointed needs. The powerful tools of
Sigma, despite huge annual spending. A criticalSix Sigma highlight and simplifies the linkage between
component which helps integrate the visions of thekey elements, activities, strategies and finally the vision,
leader with the functioning of the organization ispaving way for smooth sharing of ideas. The
strategic programming derived from "strategymethodology of Six Sigma communicates company
deployment mapping". This is said to produce anvision effectively to all concerned in a language
entirely new direction for the organization. Theunderstandable by each of them.
skepticism about the vision of building a future beginsCritical Mass
to gain momentum with the linking of visions to actionThere is also a danger of leaders getting bogged
plans and when it delivers tangible results. Six Sigmadown by trivial matters of day-to-day operations and
takes strategic planning to a different plane of thinkingnumerous details. Two of the tools of Six Sigma
by delivering on this promise.(metrics), key requirements and differentiators, come
Success Begins With Planningto the rescue. These two metrics highlight the
It should not be forgotten that the foundation forimportance or irrelevance of some data and push for
success is proper and adequate planning. Planning isexcellence on those that matter. The end result is
the elaborate statement of vision by the leader of thehelping leaders to envision the strategic importance of
company. This is true for both large corporations andactivities and steering clear of trivial, mundane things.
smaller start-ups. The core of transformingDeployment of Six Sigma can't be disconnected from
organizational vision into tangible gains by employeesstrategic planning and financial activities, either. If the
has many steps to overcome obstacles on the pathdecision to implement Six Sigma is a result of strategic
to achievement. Achievements will have to beplanning, it means the leadership has recognized the
translated to customer satisfaction for Six Sigma to beneed for complete retooling of the organization, no
successful.matter what phase it is in.
Sharing Of Vision