Anonymous
Posted February 11, 2003
Finally, a book on six sigma that shows the true practice of it rather than just the theory...and the authors make a strong case for their success factors by providing solid examples of how these factors contribute to an organization's success with six sigma. Every executive who is thinking about six sigma should read this book. And for those executives who view it as another program of the month, wake up and read how others have applied it at the strategic level to transform their companies. An absolutely wonderful read.
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Posted October 11, 2002
Thanks to endorsements from managerial heavyweights like Jack Welch, most people in business are by now familiar with Six Sigma as a process for measuring and reducing product defects. In Strategic Six Sigma, however, Dick Smith, Jerry Blakeslee and Richard Koonce demonstrate that the Six Sigma methodology can and should be applied to the highest levels of strategic planning. Simply put, the authors illustrate how the rigors of Six Sigma can improve your performance in terms of overall strategy, growth and customer satisfaction in the same way that it streamlines operations on a production floor. We from getAbstract strongly recommend this book to business leaders, executives and managers, all of whom will benefit from its hands-on advice for integrating the tenets of Six Sigma into corporate strategy.
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More About This Textbook
Overview
"Six Sigma is a key to the productivity and customer satisfaction that will define twenty-firstcentury success. Smith and Blakeslee create a clear guide for any organization that wants to prosper through quality."
-Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House
"You couldn't ask for a more perfect road map to create and sustain an effective Six Sigma process. Full of practical insights and tools for success that will help executives drive performance whether in industrial or healthcare organizations."
-Ellen Gaucher, Group Vice President Operations, Quality, and Customer Service Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield
"For my money, this is the quintessential book on Six Sigma. First, Smith and Blakeslee do not treat Six Sigma as if it stands alone. They properly emphasize the importance of the broader organizational and environmental context-especially the customer. Second, they explain how to make Six Sigma strategic, that is, how it can leverage overall organizational change. For the CEO contemplating the implementation of Six Sigma, or already underway with it for that matter, this is the source."
-W. Warner Burke Professor of Psychology and Education Teachers College, Columbia University
"Most companies today are familiar with Six Sigma as a quality improvement technique that can be used to cut costs, eliminate waste, or improve business performance. In addition to this familiar application of the methodology, this book defines how you can use the power of Six Sigma as the catalyst for organizational change when deployed by a company to transform how people do their everyday jobs. Strategic Six Sigma: Best Practices from the Executive Suite takes discussion of Six Sigma to a whole new level, and is therefore a must-read for any organizational transformation!"
-Roxanne O'Brasky, President International Society of Six Sigma Professionals (ISSSP)
Product Details
Related Subjects
Meet the Author
DICK SMITH is the Partner-in-Charge of the Center of Excellence for Six Sigma Services at PwC Consulting. He is a well-known speaker on the topics of business strategy, organizational change, and Six Sigma deployment.
JERRY BLAKESLEE is a Global Partner at the Center of Excellence for Six Sigma Services and a primary architect of PwC Consulting's global Strategic Six Sigma approach.
RICHARD KOONCE is a writer, interviewer, business consultant, and a well-known expert on job and workplace trends.
Read an Excerpt
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction: From Factory Floor to Executive Suite: The Emergence of Strategic Six Sigma as a Business and Leadership Imperative.
Chapter 1 Strategic Six Sigma: Current and Emerging Applications.
Chapter 2 Rocky Road or Trajectory of Transformation? What Makes Strategic Six Sigma Efforts Successful?
Chapter 3 Develop a Committed Team of Leaders to Drive Strategic Six Sigma Initiatives.
Chapter 4 Incorporate Strategic Six Sigma Thinking and Best Practices into Your Company's Strategy Planning and Deployment Process.
Chapter 5 Be in Touch with Customers and the Marketplace.
Chapter 6 Build a Business Process Framework to Sustain Strategic Six Sigma Efforts.
Chapter 7 Demand Quantifiable Results.
Chapter 8 Develop Incentives and Create Accountability.
Chapter 9 Success with Strategic Six Sigma Projects Requires Full-Time,Well-Trained Six Sigma Leaders.
Chapter 10 Why Training Is Critical to Making Strategic Six Sigma Initiatives Work.
Chapter 11 Sustaining Gains with Strategic Six Sigma over Time.
Afterword: Some Parting Thoughts.
Notes.
Credits.
Bibliography and Recommended Reading.
About the Authors.
Index.