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MAKATI CITY, Philippines-  Six Sigma Philippines in partnership with iAcademy School of Continuing Education, completed its Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program last December 14, 2013.  The program was attended by managers and professionals from diverse industries like manufacturing, BPO, Call Center, IT, Bank, Service and Insurance. 

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training is a hands-on workshop with emphasis on: gaining process and product knowledge with critical thinking; reducing variability and non-value added activities, and developing leaders in the organization who are focused on enhancing customer value, decreasing defect rates and wasted efforts, reducing cost and cycle time, and generating business growth and breakthrough improvements.

The Lean Six Sigma methodology is taught with a practical approach and makes use of many in- class examples, simulations, and hands-on exercises to ensure that participants have a working knowledge of the tools. 

Participants in the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training learn the basics of the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) methodology and tools for achieving better, faster, and lower cost products and processes. Participants who complete the Green Belt training and later wish to expand their knowledge of the DMAIC methodology and tools may continue by enrolling in the Black Belt program.

Testimonials of Participants:

• It will definitely help me with my projects. This course enables me to understand the six-sigma benefits and application.
• It's very practical, interesting, specific but flexible.
• It encourage me to learn six sigma green belt in a simplified and fun manner.
• It helps me understand the six sigma concept in applying our daily operation in my company.
• He teaches clearly and he relates the written items with the actual workplace scenario. He shares his projects so we could understand and have an actual sight of what a six-sigma project is being handled and how it looks like.
• Very enthusiastic and respect ideas and opinions of each other. 
• Very approachable and knowledgeable.
• The instructor is very passionate in teaching six sigma. 
• Starts on time and everyone participates.
• Well managed, enough resources as needed by the program.
  
• Encouraged to do best.
  
• Superb as well! One of the best I have ever experienced. 
• Very good!! :-)
  

by: Tara Hunt: Market research, strategy, writing and product management.

There are many lessons we can learn from The Game of Thrones...this is only one of them.I'm nearly done the third season of Game of Thrones (I know I'm behind!) and one of my favorite story lines is with Daenerys Targaryen (the mother of dragons) and her coming of age while being the Khaleesi of the Dothraki. I promise I won't give any spoilers, but there is one line that bears revealing:

The Dothraki follow strength above all.

It's a lesson that Daenerys' advisor, Jorah, repeats to her as she's trying to figure out how to navigate her new position. While other tribes in the various kingdoms follow self-proclaimed or inherited leaders, the Dothraki have a high respect for those who have the strength to lead, no matter what bloodline they follow.

In other words, the Dothraki are about as meritocratic as they come (). You get to lead as long as you ARE a leader. If someone else shows themselves to be more capable, you are out. And leadership is more than just displaying brute strength, something the Dothraki seem to also value. Leadership can also be wisdom and insight and knowing how to care for one's people. Therefore, the Dothraki, though they seem very brutish, are incredibly advanced in their thinking. The best leader for the situation becomes the leader.

In the non-Dothraki world we live in, leadership style doesn't always seem to suit the situation. In fact, most of our leadership rules resemble the kingdoms of Westeros. Whether it is anointing former-Googlers as having earned a pedigree (whether founding employees or not) or looking for the next Steve Jobs, we assign the same thinking to leadership over and over again, no matter the situation.

Lucky for us, the definition of what makes a leader is changing because of people who, like a Dothraki leader, step up and show their strengths are the strengths that are needed at the moment. I'm thinking of people like Tony Hsieh from Zappos (who demonstrated a CEO can win by focusing on culture and happiness, without a corner office or real hierarchy) or Marissa Mayer's leadership at Yahoo! (whose focus on data is legendary and who is a product person, not a business person) or the 20 female senators who led the US out of the government shutdown with their willingness to cooperate. Their surprising leadership styles emerged in the right situations.

Sometimes we need the business mind of a seasoned CEO and sometimes we need a leader with strong empathy skills and sometimes what we need is something completely different.

Leaders lead. They step up and do what needs to be done without being given a position. Saying someone is a leader doesn't make them one. For those of you who have seen the series, I have two words to illustrate this: Joffrey Baratheon.

When Cersei Lannister arrogantly asserts that "Power is power," she's underscoring the problem with treating leadership like a zero-sum game, where those who are in power deserve to be there because they have the power. This system benefits nobody. The motivation is power. "I'm the best," "I deserve this," when it is really just our job to do the right thing and move humanity forward. Our special skills will be needed again. No need to get greedy.

As I've watched through the seasons, I keep seeing characters die or lead others to their death because of an insane focus on gaining and/or keeping power. It all seems to come from this awful place of insecurity all caused by the fact that there is this one throne to rule them all. And I'm not even really sure why people want to sit in it...it seems uncomfortable and like it's a crappy job.

But what I really wonder is, if we were to make leadership truly meritocratic and non zero-sum (no one throne to rule them all), would that insecurity dissipate? Or would it be aggravated?

I'm curious to know what you think.

Images of looting of department stores, flooded offices, and overturned delivery vans in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda still lingers in the minds of a lot of entrepreneurs.  Are you ready when it is your turn?  It begins with planning.

My Six Sigma Black Belt friend, Jeremy Lim, shall give insights on how businesses especially the start-ups can mitigate losses upon taking more proactive actions in handling disaster risks.

The audience will also be provided a better appreciation of what went wrong and what went right in the recent natural calamity incidents experienced in the country.  Recommended natural disaster risk- handling tips and techniques will be discussed coming from the collective learning experiences.

Seminar Fee
The fee is only 200 pesos.  The 150 pesos goes to our pizza and drinks.  The other 50 pesos will be donated to the Yolanda victims.

Please join us on Tuesday, December 10 at 6 pm at the iACADEMY Amphitheater, 3rd Floor, 6764 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

If you are really interested to become a Six Sigma practitioner, aside from the technical part of being expert in Six Sigma methodology and tools, mastering soft skills such as facilitation, presentation, conflict, and change management skills are very important.  To be the positive key change agent of your company, understanding your personality is the first step before understanding others.

Few weeks ago, I shared the Tree personality type used by psychologists.  This time, I'll share something I learned from my Organizational Behavior and Process class: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, an expansion of Carl Jung’s ideas about personality types. 

You may use this activity as a springboard if you deliver a training, or an ice breaker when you start a meeting or a six sigma work-out.  Take note of the personality types of your project sponsors, green belts, and executives.  This might help you understand how to flex with other people in your organization.

Although not as comprehensive as when you take it with a licensed practitioner, this test is a good place to start.  Enjoy!

The four letters in the Myers Briggs test represent your tendencies when it comes to social behavior, decision-making, and lifestyle. Those dichotomies are:

Worldview: Extroversion (E) or Introversion (I)
i.e. would you rather play with your pals or hang out at home with a book?

Information: Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
i.e. when taking in something new, do you prefer to take it simply, at face value or interpret / add meaning based on your gut?

Decisions: Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
i.e. when making up your mind about something, do you primarily rely on logic and structure, or do you gravitate towards emotion and empathy?

Structure: Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)
i.e. would you rather things in your life to be decided and set, or do you like to stay open to whatever options might come along?

The experts say that you are the best equipped to identify your own type, so for a quick analysis you can just choose your side of the above questions and string together those letters for your type. Then, find the species of animal who corresponds below and see if you can relate…

INTPs are analytical and thoughtful individuals who prefer to work alone and who are often ill at ease in social situations. They are impatient with hierarchies and politics and would prefer that leaders prove their worth with merit, rather than with charisma and influence. Although they are not particularly social, they do have razor sharp wit (and claws), and are often surprised to learn that people do enjoy their company.

Dramatic, charismatic, and influential — ESTPs seek the best in life and want to share it with their friends. They are active, spontaneous, fun, and foxy. They are the most adept of any of the personality types at influencing and manipulating people, and they make great salesman and can be wonderful friends if you’re looking for a good time. Read Aesop’s Fables for more information.

Peaceful and easygoing, ISFPs take things at their own pace and live moment to moment. They are considerate, pleasant, caring, and mellow. Their values are important to them, but they are not ones who particularly care about defending or debating their views publicly. Don’t call them lazy — maybe they are just more relaxed than the rest of us.

Independent and logical thinkers who are also persuasive leaders, ENTJs are business-minded and ambitious. They refuse to allow any subjective emotion to enter into their decision-making process, and as a result they can be seen as callous and cold. But these fierce individuals tend to be highly effective, successful, and incredibly powerful. They are truly the kings of the proverbial jungle.

ISFJs are quiet, observant, and thoughtful. They are interested in maintaining order and harmony, avoiding fast-moving cars, and respecting everyone’s feelings. They are often described by the few people who know them deeply as being incredibly sensitive and trustworthy.

INTJs are independent types, wildly intelligent and creative — but rather un-interested in what anyone else is doing. They are often considered the most independent of all the personality types, and they work best when given freedom. They are acutely aware of their own intelligence, as well as what they don’t know, and their passion often lies in conceptualizing ideas and processing complex theories.

ISTPs are an interesting study in contrasts: they are naturally quiet and analytic, often drawn to the field of engineering or trying to figure out how boxes work. But they are also explorers who can easily become bored with a single routin. ISTPs are often closet daredevils drawn to racing, bungee jumping, or jumping off of high countertops. They are “live and let live” types who are not particularly concerned with rules or regulations and would prefer that others not concern themselves with their behavior either. Some have even remarked that “don’t tread on me” is the perfect ISTP motto.

ESFPs live in the moment and want to experience life at 100 mph. They are incredibly playful, generous, and optimistic. They love being social and having new experiences. Classroom learning is not their strong suit even though they are intelligent and creative — they would prefer to simply “go with the flow” and have a great time.

INFJs are value-driven individuals who tend to remain mysterious and complex even after you’ve become close to one. They are often creative and inspired individuals. They are good at perceiving emotions and are sensitive to the feelings of others, but they are not very prone to revealing much of themselves until they trust someone completely. That said, they are intensely interested in the well-being of others and are often seen as protectors as well as natural leaders.

Creative and contagiously happy, ENFPs have boundless energy and an appetite for learning about new things and meeting new peope. They bring joy to others and are keenly perceptive to the needs of those around them. They are vivacious and popular enthusiasts. ENFPs tend to get bored easily, and they are always ready for the latest and the greatest in friends, relationships, experiences, and ocean jumping

ESTJs are civic-minded workers who strive to improve society and like to be part of organizations and governments. They are often conservative and they are strong believers in the letter of the law, and the importance of procedures. They are practical and straight-forward, and have little use for “expanding their mind” or having new experiences. They are, however, outgoing, and they have no problem with clearly communicating their needs and desires to others.

ISTJs are logical and word-working conservative types. They enjoy organization and regulation, and have a reputation for being serious individuals who take a practical approach to everything. They are dependable and thorough, sensible and earnest. Like a beaver hard at work on its dam, they are known for being incredibly dedicated workers who will do whatever is needed to get the job done. On the negative side, they have good intentions but can sometimes have a difficult time understanding the emotional needs of others.

ENFJs are social butterflies who are cheerleaders and supporters of a wide variety of friends and acquaintances. They hate bullying and they love to greet their loved ones with a face lick and a tail wag. They feel good when the people around them feel good, and they tend to adapt to the group that they are in very quickly, even adopting the values of whoever they are surrounded by. They are loyal and expect loyalty from others — think of them as the living embodiment of a “team player.”

INFPs are deeply ethical and idealistic, loyal to their family and closest friends, and guided by their desire to live a life according to their values. They are curious about those around them, but will not accept threats to the security of their adorable babies or their morals.

ENTPs prize intelligence and competence over all other things (both in themselves and in others). They are often described as witty, clever, cerebral, and resourceful. They are verbally inclined and they often have a perverse sense of humor. ENTPs like to analyze every side of an issue and are creative thinkers and workers. They sometimes chatter.

ESFJs are genuine and authentic, and they care deeply about those around them. These are the kind of individuals who bring out the best in those around them, and they are serious about loyalty and responsibility to their families, friends, and co-workers. They are generous and they love to bring joy to others, but they are also sensitive and easily hurt. ESFJs are often blind to the flaws of those they love and they are incredibly trusting and full of love.