Six Sigma Roles & Responsibilities & Team Basics

yellow belts

entry-level participants who support data collection

green belts

have a more solid grasp of six sigma and lead small projects

black belts

lead complex projects and mentor green and yellow belts

master black belts

experts who work closely with leadership to align business goals; provide strategic guidance and training

process owner

identifies root cause, monitors key performance metrics, and removes roadblocks

champions

advocate for the project, secure resources, ensure project aligns with priorities

sponsors

remove barriers that impede process, facilitate cross-departmental collaborations, and maintain communication with executives

yellow belt role

offer insight from frontline experience, collect data, support pilot testing, provide feedback, communication link, and assist green belts and black belts 

Continuous improvement team

meet regularly and guided by leader

Self managed teams

share leadership responsibilities, self manage schedules, used when flexibility and ownership are essential & autonomy boosts productivity

Cross functional teams

temporary for complex projects, members from various departments, led by black belt or project manager

forming stage

introductions, define goals, clarify roles, establish norms, equal participation

storming stage

where conflicts arise; disagreements managed, encourage communication in a safe space, and prioritize listening and empathy

norming stage

shared norms develop; recognize strengths, form trust, standardize procedures, & reinforce positive behaviors

performing stage

team works efficiently; resolve conflicts, take accountability, & focus energy on milestones

adjourning stage

conclusion of project, team disbanding, future preparation, capture insights, and document lessons

brainstorming

no judgement zone, equal participation, round-robin technique, set time limits to maintain focus, and quickly generating ideas

Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

ensures equal participation, reduce dominant voices, minimize groupthink, and used for controversial topics

NGT steps

1. problem presentation, 2. idea generation, 3. sharing ideas, and 4. scoring ideas based on agreed criteria 5. ranking and selecting ideas

multivoting

prioritize ideas, explore all possible options, eliminate less relevant ideas, distribute limited votes, select top ideas