Simply put, Kaizen is a philosophy of continuous improvement. The more popular way of applying Kaizen is by undertaking blitz or focused bursts for the improvement in business. In the Japanese context, it is applied to every aspect of life, but the major utility you will find in America is mostly for work processes.

Value is what customers expect from any company when they buy a product. The product has value when it meets the expectations or requirements of the customer. The expected value is not easy to determine for new products and services, but needs to be done. This can be done with the help of surveys, focus groups and other techniques.

The DMAIC methodology for Six Sigma has been applied well to the manufacturing industry. Its utility as a process has been proved beyond doubt but a systematic approach to project selection is what needs more consideration. While cost and efficiency has to be managed well by the Six Sigma Black Belts, a systematic approach to DMAIC methodology can prove to be highly efficient.

In any organization, the most important resource is the human resource. And with human nature comes the situations of disputes. In Six Sigma projects, we will find situations where there is a need for dispute resolution. The reasons for disputes vary; it maybe distrust among individuals or rivalries.

As the old saying goes if you fail to plan, you plan to fail and this is an excellent ethos for any new project manager. Careful preparation rather than jumping straight in at the deep end can save you and your team, time, money and effort.

The same old same old is not something niche publishers want for their different online and print publications. They constantly seek out fresh material that keeps readers coming their way. Too often these publishers see rehashing of familiar material sent their way.