For those of you that joined us for the Six Sigma Salary Webcast in March you saw the software we used to analyze the data. The application was made available for free download so you could test-drive running analysis on your own.

I’m happy to announce that the sample iSixSigma salary data is now available for your slicing and dicing pleasure in the Spotfire Web Player, a free web based application that lets you play with the data without downloading the software.

iSixSigma Salary Data in Spotfire Web Player

Not only can you view the iSixSigma Salary data, but Spotfire has built a host of other entertaining applications as well. From Sports to politics, you can find one to suit you.

As an end note, if you missed the webcast live, it is still available to watch online. You can also still download the trial of Spotfire with the Salary Data included.

Yesterday, I attended a Minitab Webinar showcasing the top 8 reasons Six Sigma projects fail. Presented by Lou Johnson & Cate Twohill. Lou took care of the project failure segment (which was the vast majority) and Cate talked a bit about Minitab’s Quality Companion.

First off they did a fantastic job. Lou’s history and experience with Six Sigma and statistics coupled with his passion for getting to the bottom of project failure…resulted in this fine presentation.

The data was based off a survey of nearly 150 of Minitab’s customers at nearly 100 different companies. And yes there were more than eight reasons for failure cited by respondents. There were actually 42 reasons, but the top eight represented 62 percent of the total.

Lou laid out the eight reasons with detailed explanations and examples for each reason. I won’t go in to any detail besides listing them as Lou is sure to give this presentation again and again…

The Top Eight Reasons Six Sigma Projects Fail...

# 8 - The project solution was not implemented
# 7 - Project scope too big
# 6 - Not enough training
# 5 - Project too small for DMAIC rigor
# 4 - Project forced into DMAIC
# 3 - Project had no data or bad data
# 2 - Project not linked to Finances

and the #1 reason Six Sigma projects fail...
No management support

The biggest takeaway was, as Lou described it, “Rule #1: Pick the right project.” Four of the top eight reasons can be attributed to project selection (now comes my favorite part of the presentation, the iSixSigma research quote):

“While only 32% of respondents in organizations with new (less than one year) Six Sigma programs frequently or always use a formal prioritization process, 63% percent of those in organizations with five to ten years experience with Six Sigma do.” iSixSigma Magazine, March/April 2005

Throughout the presentation Lou offered a simple solution to each of the failure modes, and in most cases the solution could be found utilizing one of the features of Minitab’s Quality Companion.

Thank you Minitab for sharing these findings. Below are some additional articles from iSixSigma about project failure. As you read them you will find that they support Minitab’s findings as well as offer a few other failure modes to consider.

Tips and Suggestions for Six Sigma Project Success by Simon Bodie

Why Projects Fail by Holly Hawkins

How to Face Failed 6 Sigma Projects iSixSigma Discussion Forum

Understanding Six Sigma Deployment Failures by Mike Carnell

Project Selection Research by Jonathan Atwood, iSixSigma Magazine, March/April 2005

iSixSigma Magazine’s latest research survey is live! This survey will explore aspects of getting buy-in at all levels in the organization, from the shop floor to the senior executives.

With your input we’ll be able to better understand what buy-in means to companies and how different levels of Six Sigma buy-in affect deployments. The results of this survey will be published in the September issue of iSixSigma Magazine.

Please take a few minutes to tell us what Six Sigma buy-in means to you and your company and please pass the word to the naysayers in your company (if any), we need to hear from them too! Thanks.

Minitab Webinar
Top Eight Reasons Why Six Sigma Projects Fail
April 23, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Eastern

Next week Minitab is going to present a free Webinar naming the top eight reasons why Six Sigma projects fail. This is sure to be great information for all Six Sigma practitioners. But why stop at eight? I’m sure we can collectively come up with a nine and ten…I’ll give it a go:

Top ten reasons why Six Sigma projects fail:

Number 10: Black Belts spend all their time reading the Cox-Box cartoon on the iSixSigma Blogosphere.

Number 9: Black Belts get discouraged after they get blasted by Stan on the iSixSigma Discussion Forum.

Please, please, add your own project failure top tens to the list. Maybe Letterman will pick it up...

Finally, an international Six Sigma certification to set the standard. MoreSteam.com recently announced a new high tech Lean Six Sigma certification. Read the Press Release for the details, or go right to the online certification website and get certified.

"MoreSteam.com announced today a new strategic partnership with ISSISSIPPI.org to apply advanced technology to elevate the Lean Six Sigma certification process. Using proprietary internet-based brain scan technology developed by ISSISSIPPI researchers, Lean Six Sigma professionals can now be certified using a completely objective, scientifically rigorous process – at a fraction of the cost and time required by old school methods such as real-world project evaluations, and question-based testing. This innovative web-based brain scan is completely non-invasive and takes less than a minute to complete."

Earn the respect of your Six Sigma peers. Visit http://www.ississippi.org/ now and start the process. Only one minute of your time and you’ll have a certificate to mount in your office proclaiming your Belt level. I tested as a Dark Slate Gray Belt. It’s been a few years since I actively worked on a Black Belt project...I’m going to have to study up a bit more...

After you take the certification exam, post up your belt level in the comments section. There are sure to be a plethora of belt colors attainable.

If you live near Seattle and would like to hobnob with the areas finest Six Sigma practitioners in a casual after work setting…attend the iSixSigma Live! Social and Networking Party at the Rock Bottom Brewery in Bellevue.

Thursday, May 1, from 6 to 8 PM. Rock Bottom can only hold so many Six Sigma gurus so hurry and register today. The full details for the event can be found at: http://live.isixsigma.com/seattle

Lucky Kat Television, in association with Dr. Mikel J. Harry, is launching a Six Sigma for kids program. The online TV network has partnered with several education and entertainment companies to build a fun online learning network for kids.

Part of the fun will be teaching kids about Six Sigma through Harry’s Six Sigma for Kids program set to debut soon. Read Dr. Harry’s letter announcing the progress and watch Lucky Kat’s interview with Dr. Harry on Lucky Kat TV. In Dr. Harry’s own words:

“We will learn how to dream the big dream. Think about that big dream. Plan how to realize that big dream, and do the actions that are necessary to bring it into reality.”

This is exciting stuff if I do say so myself. Teaching our children to think analytically at early ages will make high school, college and managing their careers so much easier. I’ve signed my kids up to learn Six Sigma from the Lucky Kat. Check out the classroom at the Katville Academy! (Must register and sign in to explore the island and learn.)

Child Education and Entertainment Meet Lucky Kat, Press release, March 27, 2008

Six Sigma in Erie County is seeing setbacks as skeptic county legislators put a cap on the Six Sigma budget. The initial one million dollars planned has been slashed to $120,000.

“I’m one of the skeptics, I believe. They didn’t name me Doubting Thomas for nothing,” Legislator Thomas J. Mazur, D-Cheektowaga, said Thursday. “I am glad the control board slowed down this steamroller.”

“I’m not sure we are going to be saving these millions and millions of dollars,” Legislator Timothy M. Wroblewski”

They want to pilot the initiative first, to see what happens…If only the legislators had done their research before making such a hasty decision. iSixSigma Magazine research from Nov/Dec 2005 outlines the ins and outs of starting up a Six Sigma initiative.

Finding One: You get what you pay for.

Fifty percent of respondents (536) from companies that invested less than 500K on Six Sigma the first two years didn’t even see their investment back. Nearly 75 percent of respondents (260) from companies that invested 500K to 1 million saw an ROI of 2x or more. As the spending increased, so did the ROI. (Finding 1, Table 1.2, pg. 34)

Finding Three: Companies that begin with an enterprise-wide initiative have a higher ROI than those that start with a pilot program.

Fifty three percent of respondents from companies who did not make their initial investment back the first two years worked from companies who started with a pilot initiative. Sixty percent of respondents from companies who saw an ROI of 8x or more worked for companies who started Six Sigma enterprise-wide. (Finding 3 Table 1.2, pg. 38)

I’m afraid that unless Hammond can really focus his efforts under the budget constraint, the legislators have sowed their own seeds of mediocrity. Hammond and the Six Sigma team should still be able to save money despite the cuts. After all, this is a government organization, where like it or not, admit it or not, there are apples, oranges and mangoes just laying around for the plucking.

Mark your calendars…Tuesday March 4th, at 11 a.m. Eastern…The iSixSigma Global Salary Survey webcast. Attendance is free of charge. Just register to attend with your name and an email address.

I’ll be your host along with Brad Hopper of Spotfire. Together we’ll dive into the Fifth Annual iSixSigma Global Salary Survey. This year we’ve loaded the salary data into Spotfire’s business analytics software which will be the vehicle to guide you through a virtual analysis that you just won’t see anywhere else.

We’ll slice and dice the data right before your eyes, showing you year to year salary trends broken down by Six Sigma role, regions, experience, education, and industry.

The best part about attending the webcast (besides getting to listen to me ramble) is you will have the chance to download a sample set of the salary data in the Spotfire application and play with it yourself.

Whether you’re an HR executive or deployment leader looking to benchmark salaries against the industry or a Black Belt working hard to become a Master Black Belt… the webcast and downloadable data will inform you and arm you with the data you need to make those salary decisions.

I am looking forward to meeting each of you on March 4th.

Register for the webacst