Six Sigma: Deliverables at the end of the Define Phase

• Well Defined Scope of the Project: A well-defined scope of the project is perhaps the most important deliverable of the Define phase. Scope document goes a long way in finding the solution. A lot of organizations resources have been wasted and no substantial results have been obtained because of the failure to correctly scope a project.

• Well Defined Team with Allocated Responsibilities: Six Sigma projects are usually started by one person who sees the opportunity and therefore champions the project. In the beginning there may be one or two people who are working on the elementary documents like scope, financial benefits plan etc.

  However before the end of the define phase a complete team for Six Sigma project emerges. Their roles are clearly defined and responsibilities are allocated to ensure smooth functioning of the project at later stages.

• Financial Benefits: It is the financial benefits which turn the Six Sigma plan into an organizational resource. Financial benefits add value to the firm. This is because they either increase the revenues of the firm or they reduce the costs of the firm involved. However since there are multiple six sigma projects being identified, however the resources for the projects are very limited. It is for this reason that the financial benefits need to listed and debated upon for validity. The define phase ensures that this information does reach the top management and they have the tools at hand to decide whether this project should be continued.

• Risk Identification and Mitigation Plan: As a part of the Define Phase, the team not only thinks what can go right with the project. They also consider what can go wrong with the Project involved and the extent to which things can go wrong. It is deep thinking at the define stage and the ability to out-think potential problems that ensures Six Sigma projects run smoothly and are a success. If these exercises did not exist a lot many Six Sigma teams would have got on to the ground far less prepared and wasting far more organizational resources.

Project Schedule: It is in the “Define” phase that the team gives an appropriate end date to each of the stages in the DMAIC Six Sigma methodology process. Also the end date of the project is decided and the criterion for judging the project as a success or a failure is also decided.

Well-begun is half done, they say. Six Sigma DMAIC methodology ensures that you begin the project well. It is for this reason that an exhaustive define phase has been created with many deliverable documents that force you to think in different ways about your project. The end result of the Define phase is a considerably insightful team working dedicatedly towards a solution.