Making Six SIGMA Last: Managing the Balance Between Cultural and Technical Change

by Brent Harder and George Eckes

Book Overview

Das Six Sigma-Modell wurde in den 80er Jahren von Motorola entwickelt. In den letzten Jahren wurde es in Amerika verst?rkt als Methode zur Steigerung von Effektivit?t und Effizienz eingesetzt. Six Sigma - das ist ein Katalog erprobter Managementtechniken und -methoden zur Fehlerreduzierung, Produktivit?tssteigerung und zur Steigerung von Gewinn und Shareholder Value. Dieses Modell soll Unternehmen helfen, die Rentabilit?t zu steigern, indem sie sich...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471415480
• ISBN13: 9780471415480
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Starting is Much Easier Than Staying the Course: Here's How

There are several outstanding books on the general subject of Six Sigma and Eckes has written two of the best. Previously in The Six Sigma Revolution, he examined major corporations such as Motorola and GE in which Six Sigma programs really did create revolutions which continue as I compose this review. These are properly acclaimed successes. Of course, little (if any) attention has as yet been devoted to those organizations which initiated and then later abandoned Six Sigma programs. The reasons for doing so vary, of course, but most can be classified within two categories of resistance to change: cultural and technical. As O'Toole brilliantly explains in Leading Change, it is a formidable task to overcome what he characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." In this volume, Eckes suggests all manner of strategies and tactics by which to overcome resistance and then sustain Six Sigma programs, once launched. Correctly, he stresses the importance to an organization of achieving a "balance" between its culture and its technology. Moreover, at a time when change is (literally) the only constant and occurring at an ever-increasing velocity, its is also a formidable challenge to maintain the proper balance of the two. For many years, I believed that most people fear change. I no longer believe that. Rather, I have become convinced that most people fear the unfamiliar. Hence the importance of constant and effective communication between and among everyone involved. Eckes suggests that this book will show his reader how to "Create the need for Six Sigma" but, in fact, the need probably exists already so there is a need to help everyone recognize that need and appreciate the importance of responding to it. Therefore, Eckes also shows his reader how to "Shape a vision of Six Sigma so that employees understand the desired results and new behaviors of a Six Sigma organization." Also, he shows the reader how to "Mobilize commitment to Six Sigma and overcome resistance" which is inevitable. Only then can any organization change its systems and structures "to support the new Six Sigma culture." Next: "Measure Six Sigma cultural acceptance" and "Develop Six Sigma leadership." All of these components are absolutely essential, difficult to integrate, and even more difficult to sustain in appropriate balance. In this volume, Eckes explains how and he does so with precision and eloquence.In recent years, I have become more involved in Six Sigma or process improvement programs which vary somewhat in terms of their design and scope but all of which encountered several of the "pitfalls" which Eckes discusses in Chapter 8:1. Feeling obligated to achieve quick success2. Clogging up agendas with competing distractions3. Having unrealistic time frames4. Ignoring previous quality efforts5. Conducting poor Six Sigma cultural planning and follow-through6. Delegating (i.e. dumping) cultural development or seeing it as a one-time event 7. Not having ap

Making Six Sigma Last Is The Best Of Strategic Excellence!

The new book: Making Six Sigma Last, by Mr. George Eckes, is the the most comprehensive and excellent road map to reach corporate cultural excellence.The previous book by Mr. Eckes: The Six Sigma Revolution, successfully teaches us the way to implement the tactical component of Six Sigma: process management excellence. The current book is the only book to date that offers a complete process to achieve the key strategic component of Six Sigma: corporate cultural excellence. Mr. Eckes has again produced an enjoyable, very enlightening and important Six Sigma book that is easy to read and comprehend.It is perfect for corporate executives, managers, employees, consultants, quality practitioners, and students of best business practice.Thank you for the opportunity to express my high regard for the outstanding book: Making Six Sigma Last.Regards,Marc St.JamesNovember 24, 2001

Highly Recommended!

No one knows Six Sigma, which seeks near perfect customer satisfaction, like George Eckes, the consultant who literally wrote the book on it (The Six Sigma Revolution: How General Electric and Others Turned Process into Profits). In his second book, Eckes emphasizes the importance of molding organizational culture to generate broad acceptance of a Six Sigma initiative, using illustrative examples from his workshops. He describes ways to overcome internal resistance to change, to sell the program's benefits and to get key people as well as the masses on board. If you are launching a Six Sigma program, Eckes provides many specific suggestions of strategies you can employ. But because much of Eckes' wisdom can be applied more generally to organizational change efforts, we [...] recommend this insightful book to any executive, whether or not Six Sigma is your strategy of choice.

Best Book On How To: Create & Sustain a Six Sigma Culture

Think about it. Seriously think about it. What was the downfall of your quality endeavor? Your performance improvement plan? Your Six Sigma initiative? Was the wrong strategy used or was it the wrong tactical approach? Mostly likely it was neither your strategy nor your tactical approach. The failure was most likely do to people. Most likely your people hadn't really bought in. Buy-in from your people is necessary for an initiative such as Six Sigma to be successful. The people in your organization create your organizations' culture. How do you get cultural buy-in? How can you sustain that buy-in?In the book Making Six Sigma Last, the author, George Eckes shows us how. Through heart-felt stories, humorous personal examples, and real business illustrations the author takes us through the process needed to create and sustain a culture that supports Six Sigma.First we learn about Q x A = E. This powerful formula shows us that: "Q" Quality, the technical and strategic elements of a Six Sigma initiative, times "A" Cultural Acceptance, of the technical and strategic elements of Six Sigma, determines "E" the success of the Six Sigma process. Then, the author addresses resistance. We are reminded that it's a natural process for people to resist change. Eckes describes four types of resistance and offers specific strategies for overcoming each. The next chapters show how to sell it and then manage it. Now it's time to ask did it work? Did you get the cultural buy-in you were attempting? How do you know? In Making Six Sigma Last, Eckes offers a model that is used to measure the cultural acceptance within the organization or as Eckes says, "how well Six Sigma has been baked into the organization". Five case studies are used to illustrate these concepts. Then through profiles of leadership, the author shares real business examples of what worked, what didn't and why. Finally we learn how to sustain the culture that will support Six Sigma initiatives with the chapter on pitfalls: 10 things to avoid. Making Six Sigma Last is an informative and easy read. It's effective and efficient, hallmarks of Six Sigma. The book leaves you inspired and hopeful that this stuff really can work. Don't start without it!

The Vital Six Sigma Link

Organizations that are serious about being world-class will discover a vital component to their quality initiative in Making Six Sigma Last. George Eckes expertly and courageously tackles the difficult task of getting into the heads of those whose cooperation is essential to a successful quality effort. As he so aptly discussed in The Six Sigma Revolution, any change effort is sure to be met with resistance because of the "cultural" mind-set of those affected. In his simple but powerful formula, Q x A = E, George pinpoints the "A", or the cultural Acceptance of the tactical & strategic elements of Six Sigma as the oft neglected link between the Quality of these elements and the Excellence of the overall results. In Making Six Sigma Last, Eckes provides tools to help create an awareness of the need for a Six Sigma culture (based on threats and opportunities), identifies the four types of resistance and specific steps that can be taken to overcome them, explains how to mold the vision of a Six Sigma culture, and provides specific tools that can be used to measure the culture of your organization. George also offers experienced guidance in how to change job structures in your organization in ways that can compound your Six Sigma success.Your time will be well-invested reading Making Six Sigma Last. It is benchmark work. You will be challenged, informed, encouraged, entertained, and very possibly taken to the next level in your pursuit of never-ending improvement.