Achieve Lasting Process Improvement: Reach Six Sigma Goals without the Pain [Hardcover]

Bennet P. Lientz (Author), Kathryn P. Rea (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0124499848 | ISBN-13: 978-0124499843 | Publication Date: June 24, 2002 | Edition: 1st

Methods of improving business processes are developed on an ongoing basis, but few are successful. Common problems encountered include the failure of processes to meet expectations and the inability to sustain or replicate these business processes. Involvement of personnel at grassroots level, as well as at management level, is essential in implementing effective process improvement methods.

The authors present a step-by-step approach to the issue of effective process improvement, offering more than 200 tips and guidelines as well as addressing specific common problems and issues. The strategy presented is to take a broad and intuitive, but learned view of process improvement methods, and the tactics expounded are based on guidelines, common faults, and lessons learned. The authors disparage process improvement operations that depend on jargon and the support of just upper management, and promote grassroots involvement and self-sustaining measurement, making this an essential guide for all with involvement in process improvement.

*Presents a step-by-step approach to effective process improvement
*Offers more than 200 tips and guidelines
*Addresses specific problems and issues, outlining common faults and lessons learned

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Although new process improvement methods have been developed and implemented over the past few decades, surveys indicate that many of these methods fail outright, are disappointing, cannot be sustained, or cannot be replicated by other organizations. Achieve Lasting Process Improvement provides a commonsense, jargon-free, proven method of improving business processes regardless of the size, location, and nature of the organization. It presents a step-by-step approach and offers more than 200 specific tips and guidelines as well as addressing specific issues and problems. These have been gathered from organizations of many sizes in many different countries that have achieved lasting benefits and success.

This book enables the reader to:
 Establish sustained and lasting process improvement.
 Achieve the results of Six Sigma without the pain and expense.
 Implement process improvement without risking business.
 Motivate employees to participate and contribute to process improvement.
 Achieve measurable, scalable, and flexible business processes.
 Address individual business, work, management, cultural, and political issues.

Answers questions such as:
 How do you define the long-term direction for a business process?
 How do you select which processes to improve?
 How do you measure business processes?
 How do you define a successful implementation strategy and project plan for process improvement?
 How do you employ technology and automation successfully?
 How should you involve upper management in process improvement?
 How do you gain support, involvement, and commitment of employees?
 How do you maintain a business process over time?
 How do you sustain the benefits and change that you have implemented?

About the Author

Bennet Lientz has taught and consulted on project management for the past 28 years to more than 5000 people. He developed the concept of the management critical path, acted as project manager of the Internet, and turned around 10 failing projects. This Second Edition is Lientz' seventh book; he has also written more than 25 articles in various areas of project management.

Kathryn P. Rea is president and founder of The Consulting Edge, Inc., which was established in 1984. The firm specializes in E-Business, process improvement, project management, and financial consulting. Rea has managed more than 65 major technology-related projects internationally. She has advised on and carried out projects in government, engergy, banking and finance, distribution, trading, retailing, transportation, mining, manufacturing, and utilities. She is the author of eight books and more than 20 articles in various areas of information systems and analysis.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 281 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1st edition (June 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0124499848
• ISBN-13: 978-0124499843
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,143,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very useful advice and tips for improving processes, July 11, 2002

By 

leonard wolf (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Achieve Lasting Process Improvement: Reach Six Sigma Goals without the Pain (Hardcover)

Six Sigma is a very good methodology but expensive and difficult to apply in many cases. This book gives an approach that can be employed by organizations with limited resources. Some good features about the book-- practical tips from a wide variety of experiences, addressing process change after improvements have been made, and dealing with political, social and cultural factors that restrict and affect change. The authors clearly have had a wide range of different companies to draw upon. Many six sigma books offer only methods that apply to someone with a lot of resources--this book is much more realistic. The book has separate chapters dealing with management, business, and work issues as well. Easy to read.