[IxDA Discuss] six sigma vs. ucd?

[Katie Albers]

Six Sigma was designed by Motorola for use in its principally 
manufacturing-based business. It's designed to eliminate errors in 
manufacturing and business processes (and the latter was shoehorned 
in). Its influence has spread out of all proportion to its usefulness 
because it involves lots of numbers and processes which tend to make 
bean-counters happy, because they make endeavors feel less like 
herding cats.

Although it enjoys enormous popularity these days, I firmly believe 
that using it in any area where just about every question can best be 
answered by "It depends" and where the desired goal is a viceral or 
intellectual human reaction rather than a perfect cell phone, is 
seriously misguided at best and detrimental in nearly all cases.

Yes, you need to have processes available for people to use and refer 
to, but requiring their use in every case is foolish. Yes, you need 
to have goals for performance, but you don't necessarily measure 
those goals the same way every time.

I have always avoided using it and companies that use it (or a 
similar methodology) like the plague.

my .02

Katie

At 8:47 AM +0200 5/22/08, Zayera Khan wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I have recently come across Six Sigma methodology (also Design for Six
>Sigma), and was wondering if anyone on the mailinglist has experience
>applying this methodology when it comes to "design, user experience and
>innovation"?
>Do you think it can substitute or perhaps even promote user-centered design
>approach in a business context?
>I would be glad to get some tips about best practices and case studies
>regarding this topic, thanks.
>
>Regards,
>Zayera

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Katie Albers
katie at firstthought.com