Six Sigma: Project Management Basics

Which elements would you expect to see in a communication plan?

Any restraints on communicating with project team members Recipients of project information

Matrix diagrams could be used for which purposes?

Assigning project tasks Determining causes or effects of problems Showing relationships between roles and actions during the Define stage Combining two tree diagrams into a single matrix

What are the best practices for creating tree diagrams?

Defining the process for breaking down details at the start Not allowing groups or levels to merge Training the leader of the exercise on how the process of creating a tree diagram works Using no more than four items at any level

What are the best practices for the creation of an affinity diagram?

Encourage the team to look at the issue from multiple perspectives Use a cross-functional team Make sure that team members share a basic understanding of the problem Have four to seven people on the team

Match each element of a project charter to its purpose.

Goal statement Defines the quality and results that the team expects to achieve Key deliverables Estimates output completion data so the team can judge if it's on track Project scope Sets the boundaries of the project and provides a baseline for project expectations and requirements Business case Sets forth the value and rationale of the project

Your project entails improving an urban hotel's revenue stream. Despite high brand recognition, the hotel has recently lost many customers. What's the best problem statement for this project?

Hotel occupancy has decreased by 38% compared to the same quarter last year. This has resulted in an estimated revenue loss of $850,000 for the period.

How is a work breakdown structure used to plan and monitor a Six Sigma project?

It can help define team members' responsibilities

What activities should you perform to prepare for and conduct a tollgate review?

Prepare reports that contain phase objectives and metrics Organize tools that will be used to conduct the review

Given the details, what are correct statements?

Some activities between path A and B run concurrently The critical path takes 16 minutes Path D is the critical path because it takes the longest time

A team's project is to design and install in-store digital signage to improve a grocery store's shopping experience. Match the communication methods to the purposes for which they're best suited.

Telephone Congratulate the project's chief developer for winning a national innovation award E-mail Forward a revised project time line to the project team In Person Ask the project's systems engineer to teach you how to enter information into the new signage system

What are the accurate interpretations of this Gantt chart?

This project will take just over 22 weeks to complete Tasks B and C end with project milestones There are ten activities to be completed before the project is finalized

What are the uses of a relations chart?

To examine multiple cause-and-effect relationships within a complex process To help organize the ideas during the Define and Analyze stages of a project To discover and evaluate relationships between factors To discover the factors that influence the root cause of an issue

How are the tools used for planning, monitoring, and reporting in Six Sigma?

To monitor progress To identify required activities To schedule appropriate activities

Your Six Sigma team is starting a new process improvement project. You want to reduce the amount of overall variation in the process. What is the best goal statement for your project?

We want to reduce the amount of variation by 10% by September 30

What are some best practices for scoping a Six Sigma project?

Write a concise and precise scope statement Be time conscious Prevent the project from crossing boundaries