Managing the Process Improvement Effort
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TracyWiggins.
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April 7, 2020 at 5:59 am #246998
TracyWigginsParticipant@TracyWigginsInclude @TracyWiggins in your post and this person will
be notified via email.We’re familiar with LSS and DMAIC. That said, what do you use to manage the project management aspect of you efforts? Do you bolt on a traditional project management (waterfall) framework, scrum, other?
0April 8, 2020 at 10:14 am #247017
cwocarpenterParticipant@cwocarpenterInclude @cwocarpenter in your post and this person will
be notified via email.That’s a good question. At my current organization most of our projects are small (comparatively) and we just use DMAIC and when we get to the implement phase, that’s when we would look at PM methods. Mostly we would use straight waterfall, I wouldn’t venture into Scrum unless you are developing software although it can be applied to other projects. I’m a fan of following Plan-Do-Check-Act as well, in other words do a pilot project before full deployment. You can model your entire project from DMAIC to PMBOK as well (Define = Initiate). One of the problems following DMAIC is that their isn’t a project planning phase and that has caused projects. I’ve seen LSS projects that have steps without task completion dates, such as VOC, which causes the project to spin indefinitely.
0April 8, 2020 at 10:42 am #247018
TracyWigginsParticipant@TracyWigginsInclude @TracyWiggins in your post and this person will
be notified via email.Hi @cwocarpenter- I too follow the DMAIC model (A3 to be more specific)- Totally aligned!
I’ve seen several teams struggle to maintain momentum and leadership alignment, especially when the pathway to the end result isn’t always crystal clear. I like the predictability of waterfall but struggle with the rigidness not found in Agile. Again- I’m 100% in support the project phases (DMAIC), but I’m interested in alternative approaches to managing the daily, weekly and monthly work at a micro-level.
I appreciate any thoughts! Thanks!
0April 8, 2020 at 1:29 pm #247023
cwocarpenterParticipant@cwocarpenterInclude @cwocarpenter in your post and this person will
be notified via email.You know, DMAIC and Agile do have a fit in that the projects often involve the unknown. One idea I was toying with was to have a planning conference at the beginning of each phase. If you went agile-ish, and focused on Scrum, you could run sprints through every phase, beginning with the Measure phase. Discuss and plan events in the planning meeting for your sprint. A two week sprint might work. It might keep more interest by putting the project into short bursts – not sure how familiar you are with Scrum and estimating the length of tasks.
0April 9, 2020 at 8:03 pm #247048
TracyWigginsParticipant@TracyWigginsInclude @TracyWiggins in your post and this person will
be notified via email.I’m totally on board.
Wondering if anyone else has tried to combine Agile/Scrum with LSS. I know waterfall has been the default approach for many, but super interested to hear how folks are thinking outside of the box.
0April 9, 2020 at 8:37 pm #247054
Katie BarryParticipant@KatieBarryInclude @KatieBarry in your post and this person will
be notified via email.@TracyWiggins I think this article will be right up your alley! https://www.isixsigma.com/tools-templates/software/integrating-lean-six-sigma-agile-and-scrum/
1April 9, 2020 at 10:49 pm #247057
StrayerParticipant@StraydogInclude @Straydog in your post and this person will
be notified via email.DMAIC is by definition 5-phase waterfall. The charter in D is planning. It’s a wasteful misconception to try to do a beginning-to end work breakdown structure, Gantt chart, etc. since we’ll discover what we need to do in the next phase as we go along. In that respect, DMAIC already is agile, and much like a sprint. Something that works very well is to approach the process improvement effort as program management, where you collect, approve/disapprove, prioritize, and assign individual DMAIC projects (sprints) while tracking progress toward the ultimate objectives. Not very different from SCRUM.
4April 14, 2020 at 9:04 am #247115I’ve used a hybrid approach treating process improvement as a programme for planning and as PDCA based for the execution of specific initiatives. So three structures. Core PM phases (initiation, planning, monitoring) as the orchestrator so to speak. Then use agile concepts like ‘backlog’ prioritization to allow flexibility while aligning with overall objectives. Finally, the actual process improvement can be done with DMAIC and PDCA methodologies. This way there is a structure (PM), established methodology and tools for process improvement (LEAN), and agile ‘concepts’ (not necessarily rituals or buzzwords) tailored to add flexibility.
0April 15, 2020 at 8:16 pm #247142
Mike CarnellParticipant@Mike-CarnellInclude @Mike-Carnell in your post and this person will
be notified via email.@TracyWiggins Lets be clear about your question. Are you asking about managing a project as in a DMAIC project or are you asking about managing a Process Improvement Program (multiple projects).
If it is just a project Straydog is dead on.
0April 15, 2020 at 8:50 pm #247147
TracyWigginsParticipant@TracyWigginsInclude @TracyWiggins in your post and this person will
be notified via email.I’m totally aligned with Straydog’s approach: follow the DMAIC cycle for the tools and higher level framework, and use a Scrum-like process to manage the more tactical components.
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