The Power of Six Sigma

Rating:
Summary: Save your money!
Review: I read this book as an introduction to the concept of Six Sigma. My motivation to do this was that my company has begun implementing the management technique. Based on the description of the book I was expecting an introduction to Six Sigma presented as: "An Inspiring Tale of How Six Sigma Is Transforming the Way We Work."

Instead I got the script for a Six Sigma introductory training video stretched to fill a book that could be sold for enormous profit.

We have all had those training sessions at work where we watch a video where "Mike" and "Sarah" discuss an ethics dilemma or other workplace problem. The dialogue is strained and unnatural because it is trying to communicate the subject matter of the class, not good acting or plot. This book reads like the script for one of those videos. ....

This book does provide a basic overview of the Six Sigma system, which is a cleverly disguised attempt to make money by exploiting the latest management buzz.

Ideally this should have been produced as a 45-minute video introduction to a Six Sigma class. But, where would the profit be in that.

My recommendation is to check it out from the library if you really want to read the book for the basic introduction to Six Sigma.

Rating:
Summary: Did I read the same book?
Review: I searched for Sigma books in the county library database, and this was one I put a hold on and read when it came in. This is useful as a quick, easy exposition of "What is Six Sigma and why is it so great?" if you don't know anything about it other than that your employer is keen on it. I can understand an employer passing this out to the masses to help counter skepticism and resistance to a nascent Sigma program. This book might persuade the reader to take his foot off the brake -- but there's nothing in here to help him start driving.

Rating:
Summary: Deming story told in Poorly Imitated Ken Blanchard style
Review: I was fairly excited about this new methodology, especially considering my domain of software development. However it turned out to be old information bound in a new cover.
Writing Problems
The typical Ken Blanchard/Spencer Johnson book is usually narration of a fable involving everyday people and a champion or messiah of a new ideology that is promoted in the book. Those books make for a good reading as they are devoid of buzzwords and other loaded phrases that have polluted management literature. This book tries to imitate that style but lacks the simplicity and use of metaphors and analogies so adroitly used by Blanchard/Johnson. Instead this book is full of buzzwords and promises of revolutionary results based on the magic of Six Sigma, worded in a poorly immitated style.
Problems with Six Sigma
So what's new in Six Sigma? Nothing except a concretely defined metric. Anyone who is familiar with the works/ideology of Deming would identify himself with Six Sigma immediately without requiring a philosophical or fundamental change. Avoiding mistakes has been the classic mantra of quality champions for over half a century now. Six Sigma philosophy has just set a goal while implementing the same ideology-reducing defects to the level of Six standard deviations.
What's Okay?
Anyone who doesn't have a clue about Quality and possesses minimal understanding of Deming's philosophy should read this book. Those who have an understanding of Deming's work can easily skip this work.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!!! Finally A Book on Six Sigma for All of Us
Review: Six Sigma is a NEW management initiative which has been successful in GE, Allied Signal etc. I always wanted to learn about the subject; and bought 2 previously published books on Six Sigma and all are DIFFICULT to understand as I am not from Quality field. I always embrace any book which explains in a simple tone.

The Power of Six Sigma is an EXCELLENT book that explains the complex subject in a non-threatning way for anyone to understand. The book reminded me 3 books: "THE GOAL", WHO MOVED MY CHEESE" or "FISH". If someone wants to understand what is the true power behind Six Sigma, please READ THIS BOOK. This is a STORY BOOK, which is for blue collars to white collars - for everyone.

All the organizations which are implementing Six Sigma MUST ADOPT THIS BOOK and MUST DISTRIBUTE THIS BOOK to EVERY EMPLOYEE. I mean every employee. I emphasize EVERYONE - because successful implementation of any major initiatives depend on everyone's acceptance. This Book WILL work as A CATALYST.

I strongly RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Rating:
Summary: Good Overview of the Six Sigma Concept
Review: The Power of Six Sigma provides a very accessible way to get a basic understanding of the six sigma concept. Presented as a discussion between a failed manager at an `old-style' management division and a shooting star at a six sigma division of a food company, the book outlines the six sigma concept and provides fictional examples of how the six sigma process can help in real-life situations.

The book is written as a primer for those who are considering using six sigma within their organization as well as for those participating as black belts (six sigma trained implementers), project sponsors or participating workers (called green belts). It identifies the rewards possible both for the organization and the implementers, and makes a strong case for trying it.

If you're looking for a brief, easy-to-read, overview this book fits the bill. If you are looking for instructions on how to lead a six sigma project, this book may serve as a good introduction, but does not contain the depth necessary to actually implement six sigma.

Rating:
Summary: Buy several copies and spread it around
Review: This book is actually a story. As I noted in my review of "The Goal," I am not a big fan of works of "business fiction." I find most irritating.

However, this book does an excellent job of rapidly demystifying and acquainting the reader to the Six Sigma framework. Many people are at first overwhelmed by the whole idea. Six Sigma, by itself, is a name that sounds goofy. Within Six Sigma is the idea of the "Demaick" process, which is actually a reference to the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control process (or, DMAIC for short).

The topic can quickly become intimidating, which is too bad, because many may not realize they are already performing functions described within the DMAIC framework (the most obvious being the "Pareto Analysis," more commonly known as the "80/20 rule"). Six Sigma simply collects many familiar tools into one effective framework, and this book rapidly demystifies the process.

I recommend buying several copies of this book, and some in audio form (ISBN 0929071778), and making it available to your team. The book follows a discussion between two old friends, one from "American Pizza," the other from "American Burger." The fellow from American Pizza describes in detail how they implemented the DMAIC process, and how it affected their business. The fellow from American Burger reflects on how his failing division could have benefited from following the other's lead.

This book is quite entertaining on audio. Warning: every single time I thought of an objection, the book immediately countered it with a fact or example that quietly put my issue to rest. This, in itself, was a work of genius. Even though I read the hard bound copy, the audio is fun because it countered my concerns as quickly as I could think of them.

Looking back I've found that this book has driven me to read five more detailed books on Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and other related topics. Well worth the price and highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Six Sigma, an easy reading to learn about it
Review: This book is small in size and number of pages but big in contents. Written in a fictional way, it shows what Six Sigma is all about, by explaining the basic concepts in an easy understandable language. You will know what champions, black belts and green belts are, together with the steps required to improve a process with Six Sigma. If you want to learn about the concepts of Six Sigma, this book is for you. If you already know about it, you better look for one of the implementation books available. Highly recommendable for Six Sigma newcomers and for business professionals that don't need to go too deep into it.

Rating:
Summary: Truly a great book
Review: This is truly a remarkable book on Six Sigma. No wonder Caterpillar Inc. distributed this book to 45,000 of its employees. Kudos to Subir Chowdhury.

Rating:
Summary: Packed with Knowledge!
Review: Understand from the outset what The Power of Six Sigma is not. It is not really a story about two buddies who lunch together while they pursue management success - that's just the framework. It is not a book on how to implement Six Sigma - although it would prove a useful adjunct to any such program. Nor is it one of those books filled with consultant-ese whose primary function seems to be to advertise: "You need to hire me to help you to dispel the confusion that my book just generated." This is actually a very down-to-earth introduction to the quality enhancement strategy that is continuing to transform the corporate world. Frustrated onlookers may believe that practitioners keep the practical meaning of Six Sigma hidden, like some secret magic potion, but this powerful little book blows the lid off the caldron. Written as a lunchroom dialogue between friends, it's as user-friendly as it is insightful. We from getAbstract highly recommend this manual to anyone at any level involved, or becoming involved, with Six Sigma.