The Agile Enterprise: Using Agile to Fast Track Process Improvement

Agile, the new approach that in 1970 was created to replace Lean Six Sigma, is now 'scaling up' by reverting to Lean Practices, such as Kanban, Theory of Constraints, Voice of Customer, and, Kaizen. Although the main scaled Agile frameworks originated as Lean frameworks, the Process improvement practices, including the very important Six Sigma component that is the most mature and confirmed way of measuring the impact of process improvement initiatives, were left out. This is partly because they require more complex and nuanced skills and knowledge and partly because they are associated with manufacturing, whilst most Agile frameworks originated in software development. In some cases, the reason for avoiding mentioning the Lean Six Sigma origins of most scaled Agile practices is just because some of the well-known Lean Six Sigma practices are now at the core of various Agile certifications. Although Lean goals (e.g., eliminate waste, adoption of standardized processes) are in opposition to the Agile mindset that fundamentally embraces change, allows good waste, and is against reliance on standardized processes, Lean and Agile can complement each other and adapt to change in an efficient way

This webinar is a presentation on how the most mature Process Improvement approach, Lean Six Sigma's Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC), can be used to fast-track Agile adoption as well as how it can be used to convince senior management that Agile can be a solution for core issues and a way to improve the bottom line.