Hello,

This paper from the International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management of 2015 includes useful information:

Article Challenges in the deployment of LSS in the higher education sector

Thank you Daniel, good link..although it is specific to Education system;  Education might require an entire overhaul since it is one of the society's main pillars therefore the debate shall never be whether the  LSS can be implemented but rather the processes that shall be reviewed.

Dear Dorina,

I believe it depends on the exact type of industry you are looking at. Since leadership challenges vary from industry to industry.It would help if you can specify the  industry of interest. if Lean Six Sigma concepts are to be adopted.

Dear Kizito,

We can generalize the applied methodology to all systems since the tools can be easily learned.

If we make a parallel between LSS and the number "Pi", Pi =3.14 it has an infinite number for decimals although it is a constant? and so are the solutions in a Lean Six Sigma environment.

Within the Pi constant we can have an entire collection of numbers that exist for each individual on the globe, plus all the words ever spoken by anyone etc..

There is never a stop to a continuous improvement system even when there are new technologies implemented.

My first intention was to write alone the article, but then I realized that time and knowledge might be limited therefore we can all become the common knowledge contributors.

Lean Six Sigma only works in an environment that is relatively stable, predictable and where there is good cause-and-effect relationship. Manufacturing is such an environment. And invoice process is another such an environment. Most businesses now encounter a business environment that is highly unstable, uncertain and unpredictable. Therefore one key leadership challenge is to combine a lean six sigma type of approach while using a very different one for other parts of the company where there is a more complex environment in which LSS does more damage than good. 

Dear Mr. Bertsch, statistical data can be used in both environments since we work with both  descriptive and inferential. From a statistical perspective, there is no end to any LSS program and its methodology. Yet, the majority are applied mainly in manufacturing as you have mentioned as well as  in some processes where the numbers (count) can be visualized.

Is it that we do not know yet on how to apply while transforming?

I think you can  use statistical data in many different contexts, but it does not mean statistic data can lead you to good answers. For example, can you predict and guarantee that the education and values you give your children will make them successful? I have never met anyone in my workshops who said yes to this. Analysis does not work here, because it is not a complicated problem with good cause and effect, but it is a complex problem where you cannot predict. There dispositional states. Similarly, leadership is a relationship between leaders and followers. How can you bring out the best in people you lead? This too is a complex problem. In a complex domain you work with probes, and emergent practices, you use safe-to-fail experiments and the evolutionary potential of the present. There is a reasons why LSS came forth from a manufacturing environment which is a linear environment and where linear tools and scales make sense. But People are more complex, not linear and they have challenges that are non-linear. I have seen many manufacturing companies where they became so obsessed with the success of LSS in manufacturing that they also started apply this how people should be led. Big mistake. People are not machines. Imposing a linear scale on people and standards does not bring out the best in people. If your goal is to not care about people and to reduce their performance, please use LSS. It is very effective that way. I recommend you read up on complexity theory.

For the system to improve Education throughout all levels of the company is the key. So the challenge of any leader is first of all to keep self educated and then to keep and supervise that all others are educating themselves and understand the challenges and goals of the institution they work in.

I love the discussion around children's education because it allows us to help them to design their own future.

I see the reasons for children to fail when they do not have a teacher who is "kind and patient", when the environment does not conduce learning and when there is a short sight on the future expectations.

Therefore in any learning environment there are must "have's", "good to have" and "no-way of even thinking". So often, I have seen that people are expected to be in a class, learn some formulas and then are expected to apply them in practice immediately.

Similarly, in schools, a teacher teaches formulas, provides some examples and then expects at least 80% pass rate.

Each student learns differently therefore in any learning environment there is a need for a multitude of different professionals.

What we do not see today is that multitude of  different skills that are required for a student to access. It appears that we become very narrow and specific therefore we lost most of the "population" through the process of "learning and education".

I have been looking from a different perspective because the mathematical algorithms seem to increase while LSS uses a limited number of applied statistics. An example is Greedy algorithm that can be used to optimize a process: http://web.stanford.edu/class/archive/cs/cs161/cs161.1138/handouts/120%20Guide%20to%20Greedy%20Algorithms.pdf

Another logarithm that can be used in some applications is MEME: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_EM_for_Motif_Elicitation

So, what I am trying to understand is why in general we try to limit the use of math and statistics instead of expanding by applying it to solve different situations?

I agree, it is important that f both qualitative and quantitative statistical methods are applied for Lean Sigma at products/processes levels. It is also important that management should root out all possible (TIM woods) wastes from the system before such statistical techniques are applied.

Another tool that is found important in Lean Six Sigma is the use of knowledge-based product and process development. concepts and tools.

They are discussed in the following article:

Conference Paper Knowledge-based Enterprising (KBE) Strategy for Lean Product...

I could not be more surprised seeing that knowledge continues to be fragmented in org.,  but is it the product of localized culture and education or is it the company's leadership? Or is it a combination of many more factors?

At what point can anyone determine that the knowledge base is insufficiently developed such that the actions can be taken on time?

Please see the attached paper.

The Social Culture is one of the main contributors to the success of any system or methodology implementation yet, when I read the document shared by Jiju, it appears that those who are in a managerial position working in banks are among the least engaged in implementing methodologies. I wonder why?

What I could not find is the recommendation on who or how the training shall happen? Is there any recommended method that will provide the best quality outcome? Among the recommended training, I see that some organizations decide to hire consultants who provide some training and teaching. Other companies hire people who have been already trained/certified by Univ. or Training Org. I wonder if there are any studies done to see the population mixture.

The new ISO 18404:2015 standard is in fact going to look into creative thinking  and evidences on how thinking was applied in projects. It also provides a better breakdown for Lean and Six Sigma responsibilities by trying to separate the two methodologies. Another good change is that there will be an "appropriate authority" that will verify the projects at different time intervals.

There is a report that shows how far away innovation is across the globe and also who is in fact more responsible for promoting and supporting innovations.

https://gereports.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-GE-Global-Innovation-Barometer-Canada-executive-summary2.pdf

Is it fair to say that across countries the LSS implementation will vary due to social-political climate?

I found an interesting research : Lean Six Sigma Research and Practice Prof. J Antony and M. Kumar (http://bookboon.com/). Their study was performed in UK in SME's (less than 250 employees). The main reason for not implementing Six Sigma were lack of knowledge of system to kick off, not sure if relevant, availability of resources, never heard etc. The lack of resources, knowledge and training are the main issues. The question then becomes how would the system move from this state where people are stretched to max. without using methodologies that provide better ROI's, quality etc.

Where the help and support should come from?

Following on the idea that changes can happen only when people become self-motivated to learn first, the  management would only be required to ensure that collaboration among departments will be promoted within and without their organization.

In the large working environments as Healthcare, Education, Gov. the changes are more complex, but in  SME's org. this methodology should have no obstacles to be implemented.

This is another link that I was waiting for: http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/education/governing-education-in-a-complex-world_9789264255364-en#page28

Page 27 and 28 provide a better understanding of  the new system design within education.

Dynamic systems are interactive regardless whether there are companies, org. etc. and yet in many cases many companies operate as an "individual" entities.

1. Aligning LSS strategy with the organisational culture

2. Influence of uncertainty on LSS deployment

3. Lack of right proportion of employee engagement and participative leadership for LSS deployment

Vijaya..the first point that you made regarding the organizational culture might require some further understanding since the culture is represented by large groups of employees who are many times unions.  Just as an example, a company that charges $600 for EpiPen because of a healthcare plan? What kind of consciousness this CEO has? Increasing the shareholders incomes by charging so much for the life threatening condition of the "many" who need it since there are no other companies to challenge the price?

http://fortune.com/2016/08/24/mylan-ceo-epipen-heather-bresch/

We can draw some additional conclusions from the PISA results 2015 if we would want  to better understand how  math, science and reading knowledge score among the OECD countries. Although this test is performed when students are 15 years of age, the amount of information is crucial when understanding why the Lean Six Sigma had  little success when compared to the number of projects in  which this methodology can be used. The top qualities in learning are rigor, focus and coherence therefore reaching  to the high quality standards will require from the Education  K12 to establish a better plan in obtaining such performances. The question is still how assessing the individual capacity for learning will ensure his/her future performance. The first step in assessing might be crucial since in many cases, we do not know whether the student will be able to perform once the concepts have been taught.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AO4fg-s2U8#t=1451

Hi Dorina,

by using: of the Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve – Control (DMAIC)-Method

Regards

Michael Lersow

Hi Dorina,

I and my Doctoral student from Google who is a MBB of LSS have published a number of papers in Europe's top quality management journal (TQM and Business Excellence). Please do have a look at these papers when you get a chance.

1. Leadership characteristics for Lean Six Sigma

2. Leadership and Lean Six Sigma: a systematic literature review

3. Leadership – a critical success factor for the effective implementation of Lean Six Sigma

Please note that these are 3 different papers and we are in the process of publishing one more paper in a top American Quality management journal.

Regards

Professor Jiju Antony

Dear Jiju Antony,

Are the papers listed under your Project list?

Thank you,

Dorina Grossu

No....all the papers are already available through TQM and Business Excellence Journal which is published through Taylor and Francis publishers. I hope you are familiar with the above journal as it is a top quality management journal in Europe.

Dear Jiju,

Would you please send the links. I live in Canada.

Dear Dorina,

Here it is...

http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ctqm20

Regards

Jiju

Dear Jiju, as I can see all articles are paid:-)..nothing free for shared knowledge?

I will be sending you a copy of the articles but I am very much occupied with a number of projects right now......give me a few weeks and I will send you a copy of these articles to you.

The main challenge of leaders in Lean Six Sigma is to make sure all of the steps are done, and the team members network together. Original Six Sigma from about 1985 did everything in meetings which are not all necessary in Lean concept. Communication takes the place of meeting very often.

I was involved in the beginning of Lean Six Sigma when my team pulled rank and simply refused to do the 1985 type of meetings. We did the meetings we really needed, and networked to fill in all of the required steps.  

I have addressed these in my works. They are available on my Researchgate page. Have a look.

It takes me longer time than expected to complete this work as Neuroscience has its place in the study because it is about how people learn, behave, create etc.

From what I could observe, many K12 students are experiencing difficulties when they need to learn math and science. To many of them, biology and chemistry seem to be easier to learn while math and physics constitute difficult topics.

If in org./companies there are people who have difficulties learning math and doing statistical exercises, most will not be able to learn statistics either.

At the phase (Improve) where the Design of experiments is required to be used in order to determine factors etc., the large knowledge in science and math are required therefore it appears that as a system the Lean Six Sigma might be rather challenging to be implemented just because of the K12 education system.

Large org. have already moved to AI as they can see more value returned and they use statistics and data to make decisions but none of them really look into improving their systems but rather working towards profit and then either shutting down org. or moving them to other countries.

As you probably figure it out by now, I keep collecting information and data.

Obviously, the structure of education although somehow similar in many countries has also large differences.

Here is one of the UNESCO reports regarding Accountability in Education.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0025/002593/259338e.pdf#page=89

Digitized education: "

To integrate technology successfully into education

requires significant government commitment to

thinking beyond procurement. Learners’ needs must be

incorporated into curriculum design, teachers must be

adequately trained and equity issues must be prioritized.

To achieve these objectives, public-private partnerships

in technology integration need to consider the realities

of the end users: schools and teachers. The most

disadvantaged schools and students should be prioritized

so as not to widen the digital divide."...

There are today 264 million children and youth not going to school.

USA's total population is 326 million, and 264 million children who are not going to school is not far away as a number from the total population that has the largest economic market share in the world.