Why are Lean and Six Sigma failing so badly?

Six Sigma, Lean and the CEMMethod

It’s a confusing world out there. At the last count there were over 19,000 improvement methodologies (Wikipedia) all geared to helping organizations get better at business. So at least there’s always been plenty of choice depending on your particular flavor of the month however one has to ask the question why so many and why do even the better ones fail to help our companies adapt and change?

Regular readers of our stuff will know we can be quite outspoken on this matter, and it’s
best summed up by the phrase “you may be doing things right, but are you doing the right thing?”.

The vast majority of techniques, approaches and methods are misleadingly geared to fixing problems, and essentially getting better at doing things right. That was fine in the 19th and 20th century world where efficiency was king. Not anymore where effectiveness and efficiency are a 'business as usual' prerequisite for business success. However just getting better at what you currently do (doing things right) has also become the road to hell of diminishing returns. The harder we try, the tighter we get, the poorer the gain each time around.


Let’s contrast that with doing the right thing.
Here we seek to determine what the right thing is, and in our language it centers on Successful Customer Outcomes (SCOs). And that isn’t about (just) filling forms correctly, tightening bolts or producing widgets. It is a philosophy that seeks to improve our alignment in everything we do towards the SCO. It is geared to understanding Causes rather than fixing effects, and unfortunately again so much of what is called ‘improvement’ is about fixing effects, rather than flushing out the causes of work and the Points of failure (POF).

The approach we espouse, which we call Customer Experience Management Method (CEMMethod), has a set of principles and philosophy that makes sure everything you do improves the SCO. CEMMethod helps an organization bring their processes, systems, strategy and people into ‘outside-in’ alignment.

Does CEMMethod work?
Absolutely and that’s precisely what allows those leading companies to carry on creating clear water between themselves and the nearest ‘inside-out’ rivals.

So how could we compare the recent emergence of CEMM with less effective approaches like Six Sigma and Lean? Easy..

Six Sigma - Fixing problems. Doing Things Right.
For example people may not be filling in a form correctly. Six Sigma understands how often, where and what could be done to improve accuracy of the form.

Lean - Doing Things Right, and sometimes doing the Right Thing.
Similar to Six Sigma however goes a stage further in removing waste associated with form completion by removing unnecessary steps and sometimes as a consequence negates the need for a form entirely. In doing so occasionally, but not by design, stumbles into doing the right thing.
Both Six Sigma and Lean don’t challenge directly whether the form helps to achieve an SCO. Conversely,

CEMMethod - Doing the Right Thing. Doing it Right, doing it even Better.
Asks whether the form contributes to the achievement of the SCO. If it doesn’t we stop doing this dumb stuff. It is typical to find that a massive amount of work in a CEMM examined process becomes unnecessary and in doing so frees up scarce resource.
The good news is that those ‘outside-in’ success stories can help all of us embrace the SCO and identify and achieve immediate substantive triple crown benefits for our organizations.


Terms used in this article:
CEM - Customer Experience Management
CEMMethod - Customer Experience Management Method
SCOs - Successful Customer Outcomes
POFs - Points of Failure
Triple Crown - Concurrently Improving Revenues, Enhancing Service and Reducing Costs.
Inside-Out - viewing the organization as a self sustaining functional enterprise focused on division of labor
Outside-In - understanding and living an approach that recognizes the only reason an organization exists is to deliver SCOs. In doing so achieving Triple Crown benefits which benefit the Customer, the companies employees and the shareholders.


Certified Process Professional Masters (CPP-Master) Program
Orlando USA Mar 16-20, Denver USA Mar 23-27, Dubai UAE Apr 12-16 http://www.bpgroup.org/book-class.html

An internationally recognized program with proven track record delivered by been there and done it coaches more than 130 times, in 52 cities with delegates from 105 countries.
The program, now in its tenth year, utilizes the BP Groups approaches and framework to help you and your organization win the triple crown – simultaneously reduce costs, grow revenues and enhance service.
Producing Immediate and sustainable business results across any industry and sector.

Become a qualified CPP-Master and demonstrate your professionalism http://www.bpgroup.org/book-class.html

Customer Experience Management - the truth

Customer Experience Management - what is it and why it transcends journey mapping, process management, lean and six sigma.
Quick update for those wanting the FREE download of CEMMethod - http://www.successfulcustomeroutcomes.net/2014/11/customer-experience-management-method.html

Customer Experience Management Method updated approach (v10)

CEMMethod (updated) download new material

I hope you are well. Where has this year gone? 
Herewith is the latest on the Customer Experience Management Method :)

** CEMMethod v. 10 ** 
As with all these things Customer Experience Management continues to develop as organizations mature and understand better the need to align everything they do to the successful customer outcome. And in the spirit of new boots and pants we have updated the CEMMethod and associated glossary to version ten. Eleven years after its public launch now with 40+ individual techniques and approaches designed to hand hold you through the tricky territory of reframing process Outside-In. 

** Updated Training program ** 
Naturally the training has evolved alongside the latest thinking and practice in the worlds leading organizations, so if you need a refresher talk to us about the very special pricing. If you have colleagues who should adopt the CEMMethod and become qualified business process professionals then join us for three or five day sessions at a venue near you soon. 

So off we go with a bounce in our step to embrace the challenge of new ways ☺ 

** CPP Masters program ** 
Denver, Orlando, London, Singapore http://bit.ly/BPGroupCPP 

CEMMethod (v10) – download the guide and the glossary - 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vqle3vskzekqql2/AADJ9iMtWS-sz1cRO6-d0tuBa?dl=0

Note the links expire January 31, 2015
Ciao 
Steve





Certified Process Professional Masters (CPP-Master) Program
Orlando USA March 16-20, Denver USA March 23-27, Dubai UAE Apr 12-16http://www.bpgroup.org/book-class.html

An internationally recognized program with proven track record delivered by been there and done it coaches more than 130 times, in 52 cities with delegates from 105 countries.
The program, now in its tenth year, utilizes the BP Groups approaches and framework to help you and your organization win the triple crown – simultaneously reduce costs, grow revenues and enhance service.
Producing Immediate and sustainable business results across any industry and sector.

Become a qualified CPP-Master and demonstrate your professionalismhttp://www.bpgroup.org/book-class.html