Q 476. Explain the various roles that a Business Excellence Master Black Belt can opt for. Which of these roles is most challenging? Which one might be most rewarding? 

 

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Six Sigma expert specializes in efficiency and management as they would always look at maximizing output, minimizing cost whilst not compromising on Quality. A mater black belt acts as a leader and is able to develop and design the path of internal leaders, other six sigma specialist and management as a whole. He acts a guide in right selection of project until its executed and delivered with quantifiable impacts.

 

The various roles that a Master Black belt can opt for

Project Manager

Strategy building & Management

Business Excellence

Quality Management

Change & Transformation roles

Process Excellence/Re-Engineering roles

Risk and Compliance roles

 

 

Re-Engineering and Transformation roles can be more challenging

High Risk

May not be replicable

Each company will have their own challenges & shortcoming

Different Priority for Leader in Management

Resistance to Change

 

Business Excellence & Quality Management  can be more rewarding

Not limited to a specific Industry

Free Lancing is possible

Helps in increased profits, CSAT levels, Employee satisfaction levels

Encourage innovation

Business Excellence is defined as an outstanding practice in managing the organization and achieving the results, all based on a set of basic concepts or values. These practices have evolved over time and help describe on how a world class organization should operate. These models have been developed and continue to evolve through extensive practice and values. There has been an increasing trend for organizations to apply these models and integrate the principles and practice with their day-to-day Business operations thereby achieving the benefits business excellence brings.

 

Master Black Belts are experts responsible for the strategic deployment of Business improvements within an organization. They develop, promote and support improvement activities in all business areas of their organization covering the entire value chain.

Their main responsibilities include:

1.       To provide mentoring and support the Black Belts, Green Belts and Six Sigma teams to use the improvement tools towards solving a specific problem

2.       To help to develop and deploy organizational metrics and dashboards.

3.       To develop, maintain and revise the Six Sigma curriculum, deliver classroom training, and serve as liaison with external agencies in the delivery of Six Sigma training.

4.       To network with other Master Black Belts.

 

A certain set of competencies are required for a MBB. He needs to be trained to be able to fill the job as a Master Black Belt.

 

Skills and Competencies of Business Excellence MBB are:

1.       Risk management

2.       Change management

3.       Benefit realization

4.       Staff appraisal construction

5.       Contingency planning

6.       Business performance improvement

7.       Value management

8.       Business Plan improvements

9.       Business directive analysis

10.   Contingency Planning

11.   Project planning

12.   Critical analysis

 

Some of the skills expected from a MBB apart from the technical & problem solving skillsets are:

1.       Coaching skills: for other belts and six sigma teams

2.       Training skills: to deliver highly effective training to all levels of audience, to build high-impact training sessions, to make vital presentations.

3.       Consulting skills: to consult at different levels of an organization in an advanced strategic improvement requirement

 

• In general, MBB engage in project management, leading Lean Six Sigma projects, developing and facilitating Lean Six Sigma training, and participating in analytical project work.
• As a project manager, routine engagement in helping business partners think through the work that needs to be accomplished for various types of department project efforts.
• This involves employing project management principles such as developing scoping documents, project charters, project schedules, risk management plans, etc.
• Designations may vary for different organizations, however, the roles and responsibilities remain the same.

Rewarding roles, a Business Excellence MBB can take are:

1. Driving Improvement projects on processes to improve a. Cost b. Quality c. Client Value

2. Overseeing the design, development of quality related initiatives and ensure quality measures are aligned with overall Business objectives.

3. Supporting business and functional team to achieve quality objectives.

4. Interacting with client/ internal stakeholders to drive and influence improvement objectives

5. Providing support towards continuous Improvement programs like Six Sigma across various functions and create and enhance value to clients

6.Leading global projects in BE

7 People management

8. Motivating and mentoring team members in managing their personal and professional goals

9 Driving the BE program for a client/ clients in a site/ across sites

10 Acting as a mentor to Six Sigma and Lean projects for his influence

11. Working with Service Delivery Leads/Functional Leads to optimize the quality of the assigned projects by recognizing, enhancing and sharing quality best practices

 

Challenges in executing these roles and responsibilities are:

1.       Liaising between the different functions, especially in the absence of or limited top management commitment

2.       Most of the Business Excellence improvement projects done by MBB involve high risk, high budget & time consuming. Convincing the top management and getting the sustained support will be a challenge.

3.       Getting the budget approved for the high profile Business Excellence projects.

4.       Success of the MBB in the organization, will create the confidence among the top management and the teams below, which will pave way for the expansion of the improvement teams and adapting the improvement practices.

5.       Creating an organization wide improvement culture.

The winner for this question is Shraddha Sequiera for her to the point and apt answer. Do go through Balakumaaran's detailed answer as well.