The Power of Six Sigma: An Inspiring Tale of How Six Sigma Is Transforming the Way We Work FROM OUR EDITORS
Six Sigma training is a revolutionary process that has been utilized by scores of corporations. To many, its exacting guidelines sound so daunting that they seem almost impossible to enact. They aren't. To show how Six Sigma can empower managers, Subir Chowdhury presents here a commute-sized fable that embodies the philosophy behind the system. Not one metaphor wasted.
ANNOTATION
This fictionalized tale simplifies a complicated topic and, through dialogue between Joe and Larry, explains the way Six Sigma works in a nonthreatening, easy-to-understand way.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
This is not your boss's book on Six Sigma! The remarkable process of Six Sigma, which has been touted by such management gurus as GE's CEO, Jack Welch, is beautifully explained in this engaging, true-to-life tale. Never before has a business initiative transformed corporations so dramatically. While it has been credited with improving productivity, slashing costs, and improving profit margins, it can cause much angst among employees who need to change the way they currently work and adhere to a new philosophy. Corporations have seen radical change for the better, and to achieve those improvements requires radical change by employees. And it all starts with acceptance. The Power of Six Sigma is unlike any other book on Six Sigma. This fictionalized tale simplifies a complicated topic and, through dialogue between Joe and Larry, explains the way Six Sigma works in a nonthreatening, easy-to-understand way. Everyone in the organization will learn what Six Sigma is and how it works.
SYNOPSIS
This is not your boss's book on Six Sigma!
Six Sigma � never before has a business initiative transformed corporations so dramatically. While it has been credited with improving productivity, slashing costs, and improving profit margins, it can cause much angst among employees who need to change the way they currently work and adhere to a new philosophy. Corporations have seen radical change for the better, and to achieve those improvements requires radical change by employees. And it all starts with acceptance.
That's where characters Joe and Larry step in to deliver The Power of Six Sigma. The brainchild of management guru, Subir Chowdhury, this fictionalized tale simplifies a complicated topic through the lives of two typical business professionals. Contrary to other books on the subject, The Power of Six Sigma is a refreshing alternative, and succeeds at simplifying the message so everyone can effectively employ the initiative.
Readers will become empowered when the benefits of Six Sigma are better understood. For example, in a conversational tone, readers will grasp the five steps of Six Sigma, which are:
Define the problems
Measure the problems, capabilities, and opportunities and benchmark in comparison to your competition
Analyze the numbers to gauge how the processes are working
Improve the processes you're pursuing
Control your accepted measurements to maintain consistency and to track progress
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Using a format similar to that in Spenser Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese?, Chowdhury (Management 21C) has created a fictional story that exemplifies the benefits of the business philosophy called Six Sigma. In Chowdhury's rendering, Joe, a middle-aged manager unexpectedly laid off from his position at a fast-food franchise company, is depressed and uncertain about his next move. He calls Larry, an old friend and former co-worker whose career is thriving. Over lunch, Larry explains how he has practiced Six Sigma, both to advance his career and to increase profits for his employer, and he teaches the program's basics to an initially skeptical, then wildly enthusiastic Joe. At the crux of this strategic program, advanced by GE's Jack Welch and instituted at many other major corporations, is a renewed focus on eliminating mistakes, waste and rework. Six Sigma is based on designated teams ("people power") that focus solely on solving a specific problem ("process power"), which may lead to efficiencies that please consumers and, by saving the company money, enhance the bottom line. What distinguishes Six Sigma from other popular quality management techniques, such as Total Quality Management and ISO9000, is that each team has a clear goal; moreover, employees benefit because companies usually tie a financial incentive to a team's goal. While Chowdhury's is not the first book about Six Sigma, what makes his stand out is its engaging and simple approach intended for a broad audience, from the assembly line worker to middle managers and CEOs of smaller companies. (Apr.) Forecast: Given the attention paid to Six Sigma, and Dearborn's ambitious 50,000-copy announced first printing, this book has a reasonable chance of hitting business bestseller lists if Dearborn can jump-start word-of-mouth and find ways to encourage managers to make the book required reading for employees. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
"Subir Chowdhury has broken down the often mystical subject of Six Sigma into a very thorough, yet easy, read. I believe The Power of Six Sigma will do for your customer centered, profit driven defect reduction efforts what The Goal did for cycle time reduction and supply chain improvement." Steve Gunther, Vice President, Six Sigma Deployment, Seagate Technology "Six Sigma has become a central part of business success, and everyone must know and apply these principles to their organization. The Power of Six Sigma will promote buy-in within all levels of the organization, as it breaks down what can be a complicated topic into an easy-to-understand, enjoyable read... This book will become a source code for those who want to understand and execute Six Sigma successfully. — (Dave Ulrich, Professor of Business, University of Michigan)
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