DESIGN CHARETTE 6: Six Sigma

In Six Sigma Team Dynamics, George Eckes (2002) establishes key points as to why a team may fail. I will go through each point and show that mostly, we were a good team:

➤ They do not identify a leader.

One of the first thigs that happened was that Lisa established herself as a leader and we let her take on the role as she was so clearly suited to it.

➤ They do not establish roles and responsibilities and they do

not discuss what each participant “brings to the party.”

Perhaps we could have gone into this with more detail but like previously mentioned, we already knew each other so that discussion didn’t really need to be had as we were well aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

➤ They do not establish a set of goals/objectives.

This was discussed AND an unconsciously known aspect. For little things we set clear goals and objectives but for the overall goal for the project we knew where we all stood.

➤ They do not establish an agenda for managing the 90 minutes

allotted to complete the assignment.

At the beginning of every meeting this is what we would sit down and do.

➤ They do not establish a method to determine how they will

reach agreement.

We didn’t do this. If there was trouble reaching an agreement we would just sort of pick one and if there was any major strong objections which there often weren’t, then we would have a discussion and work it out until we were all happy.

➤ They do not establish a set of ground rules for running their

meeting.

We knew the rules as we had writted the rules of engagement and we would also make rules along the way. For example, in some meetings we weren’t allowed to really have social catch up time because we knew we had a lot to sort.

➤ They do not use quality tools.

We used a whole range of quality tools to our advantage. Dropbox, Facebook, Solidworks, Illustrator, Photoshop, Powerpoint, Pecha Kucha, Video, Images etc.

➤ They exhibit maladaptive behaviors for which there are no

consequences.

We didn’t exhibit maladaptive behaviours. We were open and easy with each other, willing to compromise and put our pride to the side for the good of the team.

➤ They waste an extraordinary amount of time getting started.

Sometimes we would take longer than we would have like chatting and catching up but if we really had alot to do we'd knuckle down and do it.