Key Points

• Six Sigma is a great fit for government bodies big and small.
• You can leverage Six Sigma tools to refine the operations of government entities.
• Six Sigma helps to promote government transparency and accountability with the population.

Six Sigma in government is an effective means of leveraging the methodology’s teachings to reduce waste and promote greater efficiency overall. Ultimately, a government is intended to serve the people. This can be done through the creation and maintenance of public works and outreach programs.

However, given enough time, a government entity is prone to bloat, scope creep, and other wastes. There is room for improvement when you have decades or even centuries of methods to clear through. So, with that in mind, today we’re taking a closer look at how Six Sigma in government can improve a local government’s standing with the populace.

The Function of Government

Realistically, a government functions as a representation of the population. When you do things like collect taxes and federal funds, there are certain expectations about the services provided. Now, ostensibly, this would extend to things like public outreach programs, social welfare benefits, and things like public transportation.

However, you’ve likely got some grievances with your local government. In my city, the buses barely run in a sensible manner for those that do have a lengthy commute for work. Additionally, there are few financial opportunities for those looking to purchase a new home to receive any sort of government assistance in the forms of down payments and the like.

That said, a government provides security, public works and services, and ultimately a return on the investment provided by the population. As a representative democracy, this is the core function in principle for the United States. At the end of the day, the government serves the people, not the other way around.

Embracing Modern Methodologies

Government policies are slow to change, especially when you consider the sheer breadth of red tape to cross for any meaningful decisions to be made. That’s what makes the introduction and adoption of modern methodologies and frameworks such a crucial element. Numerous elements in the federal government are downright antiquated when compared to current operations in the private sector.

As such, it makes sense to start embracing these modern methodologies to improve daily operations for any government entity. Like any big change, you’ll want to implement these on a smaller scale before making drastic changes.

That said, principles from the likes of Lean, Agile, and Six Sigma are a perfect fit for government work. Many of the functions and processes of your local government have likely been in place for decades and are probably slow to change despite public demand for it.

Six Sigma in Government: Modernizing Public Works

Now that we’ve highlighted a bit of the concerns centering around government operations, let’s take a deeper look into Six Sigma in government. Six Sigma is a popular methodology for manufacturing, services, and other private industries. However, one thing you’ll not see with a cursory glance at the news is the growing prevalence of Six Sigma in government-affiliated bodies.

Most recently, there were discussions about outreach programs to teach Six Sigma to United States Marines and other people in the community near the base. This serves a vital function, as it is arming members of the military with the tools necessary to guide better decision-making, fine-tune processes, and ultimately make a more efficient fighting force. Additionally, these sorts of outreach programs help to engage the population and increase employability.

Making Operations More Efficient

I want you to think back to a recent visit to a government office. For me, it was going to pay my car taxes at the local DMV. All said, this should be a relatively simple process. I have my debit card in hand, I have my registration and tax bill. Realistically, this should be an in-and-out process of a matter of minutes.

It took me two hours when all was said and done. Government offices are frequently understaffed, but more concerning is that there is a mess of bureaucratic apparatuses in place to make even the most simple process a pain in the neck.

This is where Six Sigma in government comes in handy. You can start taking a look at these processes, one by one, and make changes as necessary to get that turnaround time down. Ultimately, each of these processes isn’t unlike something done in a factory. You’re looking to optimize these processes so there isn’t a lag time for people getting through.

Promoting Greater Transparency

My local government, and many, are rather opaque about what is being done. Without a keen eye on the news, or more importantly, tapped into local communities, you’d be hard-pressed to know what is going on. This is a failing of the people in a few different ways. Essentially, the electors and constituents in a city, county, or what have you, are stakeholders.

Now, in the private sector, we are expected to meet and report to stakeholders. The same can apply to Six Sigma in government work. This helps in a few different ways, and it promotes greater engagement of the population in the inner workings of governing.

I’m not expecting government entities to start allowing laypeople into the offices to see what’s what. However, promoting transparency and, more importantly, accountability is paramount to increasing the happiness and morale of the population.

Utilizing Six Sigma Tools for Government Processes

There is no shortage of tools at your disposal for optimizing workflows in Six Sigma. This holds even when looking at Six Sigma in government, as you can still use the likes of root cause analysis tools for finding pain points. Additionally, you can utilize the likes of DMAIC and DFSS for optimizing and designing new processes or services.

The use of Six Sigma tools means you’re making better use of the admittedly meager resources provided in some areas. Optimizing resource usage is just one of the ways you can make a positive change in the way your government works.

Using Data for Decision-Making

Six Sigma in government can leverage the data gathered throughout the year to make more informed and logical decisions. Data is a key part of any Six Sigma-based business, as any seasoned Black Belt will tell you. That said, when you’ve got decades of solid data based on the performance of various departments, you can hone in on where areas need improvements quickly.

Now, that isn’t to say this sort of decision-making circumvents the red tape and bureaucracy in place. However, it does give you a solid backing to make a case for yourself. If you’ve got hard empirical numbers, it is a lot harder to argue against than simply just going on a gut feeling.

Shifting Government Culture

Six Sigma, as you probably know, is more than just a methodology for improving processes and reducing defects. It is a transformative methodology that encompasses all areas of an organization. This sort of cultural shift can be difficult, as change itself is a hard thing to navigate in particularly entrenched organizations.

That said, practicing good change management can and will lead to a positive transformation for your government organization. Ultimately, you’re looking to please customers and stakeholders, who are your voters and those higher up the food chain in the government.

Making the big change to incorporate Six Sigma in government is going to be a difficult process, but one that is ultimately going to benefit the whole of your governing body for years to come.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

Ready to learn some more? You might want to take a closer look at design thinking vs. DMAIC. These two approaches to process and product design are disparate at first glance but quite usable when applied in the right manner.

Additionally, you might want to take a closer look at Six Sigma and sustainability practices. Sustainability is a growing concern as climate change takes hold, but the methodology can allow you to adopt greener practices while increasing profits.

Conclusion

Six Sigma in government is a logical and natural choice. While it might seem better suited to the factories and auto plants, its teachings, tools, and data-driven decision-making are a great fit for any government body looking to build and foster trust with its community.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.