Jump Start Your Not-for-Profit’s Creativity with Six Sigma
In my work with not-for-profits, it’s a common misperception that Six Sigma tools stifle the creativity needed to be successful in the not-for-profit world. On top of that, leaders fear that the rigorous data analysis just isn’t practical for a team of dedicated employees who are already wearing too many hats. How can we achieve our mission if we’re mired in metrics? We can’t possibly be responsive to the needs of our communities and clients. I was encouraged to read the Jan. 2016 ASQ posting about the work of Jorge Perez, vice president of youth development, family enrichment, and social responsibility for Y-USA. He realized that one of the YMCA’s main community programs (and money raisers) had become stale – the summer day camp that many of us remember fondly from our youth! Attendance and interest in the program had dropped off. Something had to be done. Prior to Perez introducing Six Sigma training at Y-USA, a program upgrade was typically the result of several staff members getting together to simply revamp what was already in place. But rather than overhauling existing plans, the project team used Six Sigma tools to discover that the learning environment created for the children was the primary component that was lacking in delivering high-quality day camp experiences. They completely retooled the program around three factors identified as necessary for improving the day camp experience – building a sense of achievement, creating a feeling of belonging, and encouraging relationships among day camp participants. The re-invigorated program has been a huge success. Now, camp staff focus on making sure that every kid learns something new, makes a new friend, and forms a connection with the Y — every single day. Perez commented that, in the past, staff made decisions with a combination of instinct and data that suited their argument rather than using data to drive toward a solution. But that’s no longer the case. “The fact that we came up with a day camp solution that no one was thinking about was exactly what we needed to do.” Creativity takes courage — the courage to be disciplined, to ask the right questions, and to gather the right data before brainstorming about new possibilities. What programs are a little stale at your not-for-profit? Are you up for the challenge? ...
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