Glossary: Six Sigma Roles and Responsibilities and Team Basics

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to Six Sigma roles, responsibilities, and team development stages.

Adjourning

The final stage of team development where the project concludes, achievements are recognized, and the team disbands.

Agenda

A structured outline of meeting objectives, topics, time allocations, presenters, and expected outcomes to guide discussions and ensure productivity.

Black belt

A full-time Six Sigma professional who leads complex projects, mentors Green and Yellow Belts, and ensures adherence to Six Sigma methodology.

Brainstorming

A creative group technique used to generate a wide range of ideas without judgment, followed by grouping, evaluating, and refining ideas.

Champion

A leadership role that advocates for Six Sigma projects, secures resources, and ensures alignment with strategic goals.

Communication

The exchange of information among stakeholders to ensure alignment, transparency, and effective collaboration throughout a project.

Continuous improvement

An ongoing effort to enhance processes, products, or services through incremental changes driven by team insights and data.

Cross-functional team

A team composed of members from different departments or specialties working together to solve complex, multi-area problems.

Forming

The initial stage of team development where members meet, understand the project, and establish relationships and expectations.

Green belt

A Six Sigma practitioner who leads smaller projects or supports larger ones while balancing other job responsibilities.

Master black belt

A strategic Six Sigma expert who trains and mentors Black Belts, develops standards, and aligns projects with business goals.

Meeting minutes

A written record of meeting details, discussions, decisions, action items, and attendees, used to support follow-up and accountability.

Multivoting

A structured decision-making technique where team members vote to prioritize ideas, helping narrow down options to those with broad support.

Nominal group technique (NGT)

A structured method for idea generation and prioritization that ensures equal participation through silent idea writing, round-robin sharing, and anonymous scoring.

Norming

The stage of team development where members establish shared norms, build trust, and begin working collaboratively toward goals.

Performing

The stage of team development where the team operates efficiently, communicates openly, and focuses on achieving project goals.

Process owner

An individual responsible for the stability and performance of a specific process, ensuring it meets goals and operates efficiently.

Self-managed team

A team that operates with autonomy, managing its own tasks and decisions without constant supervision.

Sponsor

A senior leader who provides governance, removes organizational barriers, and ensures continued support for Six Sigma projects.

Stakeholder engagement

The process of involving individuals or groups affected by a project to ensure their needs and concerns are addressed.

Status report

A communication tool that provides updates on project milestones, metrics, risks, and progress to support tracking and decision-making.

Storming

The stage of team development where conflicts and differing opinions emerge as members assert ideas and roles.

Yellow belt

An entry-level Six Sigma participant with foundational training who supports projects through data collection, observation, and frontline insights.