All entries for Wednesday 21 November 2012

The bad influence of competitive spirit

Today we had a PIUSS seminar, where we were divided on two groups and asked to prepare a solution of how to improve the production line of airplanes. The aim of this case study was to learn how Six Sigma can be applied to a real situation. Unfortunately, as Deming suggested when people are put into competition, they forgot about the original purpose and start to play or fight to each other.

I can’t say that we were not using Six Sigma approach. We tried to create SIPOC diagram and identify special causes but we were more focused on the result, rather on the process, that is why we put the main emphases on training and testing than on learning about the process. I guess, this happened because of that ugly and awful feeling of competitiveness, when in the end you can become either winner or loser. No one wants to become a loser, so we use all methods to win, even cheating.

Maybe, it could be more effective to do all steps of DIMAC together, with exception of testing process, where the group can be divided on two teams? It can look weird but I am happy that we face this problem. At least now I know the outcomes of competitiveness!

Arina Borodina : 21 Nov 2012 00:26 |  Tags: Cbe; Piuss |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem