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Software Six Sigma & Quality Article Archive
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Quality Spotlight Archive | Management Spotlight Archive | Tools Spotlight Archive Readers' Choice: View All Top-Rated Articles Archives by Year: 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 - Six Sigma Encourages Improvement Within CMMI Framework
In the IT industry, positioning Six Sigma under the broad process management umbrella of Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) ensures that a company gains from this important tool while averting the trap of applying it where it does not fit. Read the full article. December 3, 2008
- Lessons Learned from an Internal Software Organization
This case study, which involves a Six Sigma deployment within the software development organizations of a large insurance company, introduces key drivers for use in various stages of implementation, as well as harmful roadblocks to avoid. Read the full article. November 19, 2008
- With Flexibility, DMAIC Has Long Future Ahead
While the classic DMAIC roadmap will continue to help combat reactive problems for a long time, even beyond that use, DMAIC thinking and tools have a great future in the areas of monitoring and control and in improving and redesigning projects. Read the full article. November 5, 2008
- Tips for Defining and Collecting IT Process Metrics
IT firms often begin initiatives to measure and collect data for process metrics as part of improvement initiatives. Practitioners responsible for deployment will benefit from understanding the strategic, tactical and operational aspects of metrics. Read the full article. October 22, 2008
- FMEA: Tool for Process Documentation and Discovery
While the name of the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) concentrates on how a process fails, the real objective is to concentrate on assessing the effects and viable process controls for the root causes related to any given failure mode. Read the full article. October 8, 2008
- Lean Template System Reduces Software Document Waste
One waste area, often found in organizations handling outsourced projects, is excessive – and often redundant – documentation. To overcome this waste, practitioners can organize it in one place by building and maintaining a master document. Read the full article. September 24, 2008
- Six Sigma Tools Still Fit in Projects Lacking Data
Many would say that Lean Six Sigma cannot be used in projects without process data. However, there are many good reasons for practitioners to use the methodology, tools and approaches of Lean Six Sigma, even if they start a project with no data. Read the full article. September 10, 2008
- Tools That Complement SIPOC and Help Uncover Details
Software development teams may struggle to get SIPOC, used in its routine way, to fit their process types and to bring out new insights as well as expected. In those situations it can be helpful to have a few related approaches at the ready. Read the full article. August 27, 2008
- Project Selection: Don't Pan for Gold in Your Hot Tub!
An answer to what types of software problems can be addressed with Six Sigma exists in a universally applicable criteria that provides a project selection framework. Rule No. 1: "Don't pan for gold in your hot tub!" Go where the money is. Read the full article. August 13, 2008
- Keep it Simple: Choose the Best Tools for Kaizen Events
A non-statistical tool, the value stream map, is the focus during Kaizen events, and when selecting other tools to accompany the map, Belts must be mindful not to introduce anything overly complicated, or they may waste valuable time with staff. Read the full article. July 30, 2008
- Software Development Assessments for the 21st Century
How does an organization start the process of driving change, without investing significant time in resource-intensive assessments to establish a quantitative baseline and measure subsequent performance progress? The answer may lie in web technology. Read the full article. July 16, 2008
- Seven Focus Areas to Drive Lean Six Sigma Results
It is crucial to have good leadership, the correct team, a solid project charter, and personal and business incentives to be successful in Lean Six Sigma. When all these items are in place, it is possible to run a first-class deployment. Read the full article. July 2, 2008
- Three Lean Tools for Agile Development Environments
Because the underlying project management principles and team culture of agile projects vary considerably from conventional waterfall projects, developers in an agile setting may want to familiarize themselves with this simple Lean tool set. Read the full article. June 18, 2008
- Creating a More Accurate IT Availability Definition
Although the availability numbers IT providers give might be numerically correct, they may not be a true representation of the real business situation. For more accurate predictions, use the outside in and rolled throughput approaches. Read the full article. June 4, 2008
- Lean Six Sigma Can Serve as a Change Management Tool
Lean Six Sigma will facilitate the changes that it requires, while also preparing users for other change initiatives within an organization. As such, a Six Sigma deployment enables, rather than impedes, simultaneous change initiatives. Read the full article. May 21, 2008
- Manage IT Projects and Resources the Six Sigma Way
By exploring how Lean Six Sigma is used at best-practice companies and learning the answers to some common questions, software and IT organizations not already using Lean Six Sigma can gain a greater understanding of what they are missing. Read the full article. May 7, 2008
- The Merits of 'Know-nothing' Belts and Champions
Six Sigma deployment teams should be like a jury – unbiased. By employing Black Belts and Champions from outside the area that is being improved, organizations will receive a more objective, and, therefore, more helpful guide to process improvement. Read the full article. April 23, 2008
- Remove Obstacles for Six Sigma Within Agile Development
It can be challenging at first to find the connections between Six Sigma and Agile; a number of obstacles stand in the way of reaching an integrated view. But there is some untapped leverage that, if explored, may ease the use of the two methods. Read the full article. April 9, 2008
- Improve Software-Development Productivity with Lean
Increasing productivity can give a software-development company an edge over its competition. To accomplish this, the organization can use Lean principles to identify and eliminate wastes in the development process and encourage key drivers. Read the full article. March 26, 2008
- Through Change, Tracking Savings Must Stay Constant
While most changes to Six Sigma over the years can be considered improvements, there are some new trends that stray too far from one of the method’s core values – measuring success by tracking financial savings. Read the full article. March 12, 2008
- Six Sigma in the Information Technology Services Sector
The application of Six Sigma in the IT service sector has resulted in changes in methodologies and tools. Process improvement managers must transform programs to suit their industry needs and experts must tailor the tools for successful deployment. Read the full article. February 27, 2008
- Lean First…or Six Sigma?
Several cases serve as solid examples of the horsepower gain for Lean and Agile driven by an early Six Sigma base and mindset. They demonstrate the synergy of Lean and Six Sigma used together instead of being used as rival methodologies. Read the full article. February 13, 2008
- User Stories and Measures for Competitive Analysis
User stories and measures provide a succinct way to uncover, articulate and track functionality and performance and they can be used for benchmarking and also linked to key aspects of quality function deployment (QFD) analysis. Read the full article. January 30, 2008
- QFD a Good Tool to Use for Avoiding Product Failure
A new product developer can avoid failure by discovering if an opportunity exists to provide customers with what they want. Using QFD can help determine the acceptance of a new product before development, production and marketing costs are incurred. Read the full article. January 2, 2008
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