Leading Six Sigma: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Experience with GE and Other Six Sigma Companies

Playing Defense—Sustaining Momentum

After a couple of years, Six Sigma may become old news, and more recent issues or problems may divert managerial attention. This phenomenon has been faced by all organizations deploying Six Sigma, so it is leadership's response to it that determines whether or not the deployment will be successful in the long term. In Chapter 3 we noted that implementing the remaining infrastructure elements was the key to successfully making this transition. Recall that these infrastructure elements were identified as part of the overall deployment plan developed in the launching the initiative phase (Chapter 4). Some of these infrastructure elements were implemented during the managing the effort phase (Chapter 5), such as ...