Rating: 
Summary: The definitive introduction to the subject
Review: For those who want a clear, concise (if not comprehensive) introduction to Six Sigma, this is the place to start. The authors offer an enticing glimpse into the real-world application of Six Sigma tools and techniques. While not to be considered the be-all, end-all (see authors like Breyfogle or Pyzdek for that), The Six Sigma Way is the book to read if you're contemplating a Six Sigma effort and need fundamental knowledge, a starting point for more thorough treatment of the subject (which can be daunting in its comprehensiveness). Highly recommended, especially with the companion guide.
Rating: 
Summary: A Breakthrough in "Boundaryless Thinking"
Review: From livejournal notrealnewsJack Welch, the retired CEO of General Electric, has hailed his recent affair with Harvard Business Review reporter Suzy Wetlaufer as a breakthrough in the business concept of "Boundaryless Thinking". "I could have easily spent the rest of my life trapped in the narrow view that my marriage meant lifelong monogamy," said Welch, a smug look on his face, "but with boundaryless thinking, I was able to take the concept of marriage in a whole new direction. Just like the things I did at GE."
Boundaryless thinking was one of the tenants that allowed Welch to get GE out of the failing appliances business and into the credit business, which now comprises more than half of GE's corporate makeup. It was a concept Welch highly stressed and touted in his autobiography "Jack: Straight from the Gut." He intends to follow it up with a new book, "Cheating on your wife the Six Sigma Way: How CEO's of GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Extramarital Performance".
Rating:
Summary: The Six Sigma Way
Review: I am a former GE Capital Black Belt and now Master Black Belt with experience at various companies in the process of implementing Six-Sigma Quality initiatives. I can tell you that I consider "The Six Sigma Way" by Pande et al as required reading for anyone who is even considering implementing or participating in a Quality program of this type. Whether you are an aspiring Black Belt or a seasoned member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll find a lot of good ideas and advice on proactive Quality in this book.
"The Six Sigma Way" introduces these state-of-the-art tools and concepts in plain...and often entertaining...English (for the rest of us), as opposed to the other books I've read that are dry and full of high-level concepts and statistical formulas that are far too advanced for most initial Six Sigma efforts anyway. The book provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for setting the proper foundation of a Six Sigma program and for obtaining buy-in and support from co-workers and business leaders. You can pick and choose whichever higher-level tools and techniques your business needs once you have established this critical (and often neglected) foundation.
The book also promotes one of the more important aspects of the Six Sigma methodology that others seem to miss...that there is no single way of doing it! The authors recognize that every business environment is not the same, and that different aspects and techniques will appeal to different business cultures. One of this book's best features is that it very clearly spells out the principles involved with Six Sigma and then offers some practical ideas on how they can be successfully applied to a strategy for your specific business.
The authors also provide clear examples of what works and what doesn't. They include "case study" examples that are actually entertaining to read and that are likely to be encountered in today's business environment. At the same time, they have carefully contrasted the successes of Six Sigma to the TQM movement that preceded it. Instead of simply saying "TQM, bad...Six Sigma, good," as others have, the authors eloquently point out why certain aspects of TQM didn't work consistently. They go on to explain exactly what it is that Six Sigma does differently so that gains can be maintained for the long-term.
Finally, I have to mention something about how the book addresses the use of statistics in Six Sigma type initiatives. All too often, business managers operating in a high-paced environment hear the words "statistical process control" and they are immediately turned-off...believing that a statistical approach to business management is too time consuming, unresponsive, and probably beyond their math capabilities anyway. "The Six Sigma Way" helps lay this ambiguity and fear of statistics to rest by explaining the key concepts in ways that don't require a degree in math. They focus on the basic measurement and analysis techniques that can actually be used and understood by managers at all levels, and the authors communicate this in a way that can be followed by anyone who can balance a checkbook.
"The Six Sigma Way" is a wonderful guide to understanding proactive Quality programs; to designing and implementing a program for your specific business; and to maintaining that program over time. I am certain that you will find this book on every successful manager's reading list.
Rating:
Summary: The Six Sigma Way
Review: I am a former GE Capital Black Belt and now Master Black Belt with experience at various companies in the process of implementing Six-Sigma Quality initiatives. I can tell you that I consider "The Six Sigma Way" by Pande et al as required reading for anyone who is even considering implementing or participating in a Quality program of this type. Whether you are an aspiring Black Belt or a seasoned member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll find a lot of good ideas and advice on proactive Quality in this book.
"The Six Sigma Way" introduces these state-of-the-art tools and concepts in plain...and often entertaining...English (for the rest of us), as opposed to the other books I've read that are dry and full of high-level concepts and statistical formulas that are far too advanced for most initial Six Sigma efforts anyway. The book provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for setting the proper foundation of a Six Sigma program and for obtaining buy-in and support from co-workers and business leaders. You can pick and choose whichever higher-level tools and techniques your business needs once you have established this critical (and often neglected) foundation.
The book also promotes one of the more important aspects of the Six Sigma methodology that others seem to miss...that there is no single way of doing it! The authors recognize that every business environment is not the same, and that different aspects and techniques will appeal to different business cultures. One of this book's best features is that it very clearly spells out the principles involved with Six Sigma and then offers some practical ideas on how they can be successfully applied to a strategy for your specific business.
The authors also provide clear examples of what works and what doesn't. They include "case study" examples that are actually entertaining to read and that are likely to be encountered in today's business environment. At the same time, they have carefully contrasted the successes of Six Sigma to the TQM movement that preceded it. Instead of simply saying "TQM, bad...Six Sigma, good," as others have, the authors eloquently point out why certain aspects of TQM didn't work consistently. They go on to explain exactly what it is that Six Sigma does differently so that gains can be maintained for the long-term.
Finally, I have to mention something about how the book addresses the use of statistics in Six Sigma type initiatives. All too often, business managers operating in a high-paced environment hear the words "statistical process control" and they are immediately turned-off...believing that a statistical approach to business management is too time consuming, unresponsive, and probably beyond their math capabilities anyway. "The Six Sigma Way" helps lay this ambiguity and fear of statistics to rest by explaining the key concepts in ways that don't require a degree in math. They focus on the basic measurement and analysis techniques that can actually be used and understood by managers at all levels, and the authors communicate this in a way that can be followed by anyone who can balance a checkbook.
"The Six Sigma Way" is a wonderful guide to understanding proactive Quality programs; to designing and implementing a program for your specific business; and to maintaining that program over time. I am certain that you will find this book on every successful manager's reading list.
Rating:
Summary: Top notch overview of Six Sigma
Review: I found the book to be clearly written and even fun in places. It provides a solid and practical overview of the principles of Six Sigma. It explains Six Sigma as a flexible system to help manage processes in companies. It addressed all the questions I had in trying to decide whether Six Sigma is appropriate for my company. It provides much practical and non-dogmatic advice about how to implement. I bought the book to prepare my self to fight against the six sigma way. After reading it, I am very enthusiatic and am planning to propose this approach for my company. I highly recommend the book for anyone needing an overview of the topic from a management perspective.
Rating:
Summary: How to make the most of Six Sigma
Review: I invested over a year researching the best way to manage processes in my company before coming to the following conclusion. Six Sigma is worth implementing but only in conjunction with Optimal Thinking. Six Sigma without Optimal Thinking can produce suboptimal results. Put "Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self" in the hands of all employees and this book, train them in the concepts, follow up with coaching, and you will have the best of the best. If you can't do it all, just get the books in the hands of those that matter.
Rating: 
Summary: What a load of c***!
Review: I never read the book, but the CD is such a masterfully "abridged" version of the book that it manages to tell you for hour HOW WONDERFUL six sigma is, while totally neglecting to tell you WHAT SIX SIGMA ACTUALLY IS, or HOW IT IS IMPLEMENTED. In short, the CD contains nothing but self-marketing bull. If you have money to waste, go buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Six Sigma Saved My Life
Review: I was one of those slick-hair 80's Wall Street mofos until I lost everything in the '87 crash. After spending 10 years in a k-hole deep in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, I happened upon a Six Sigma Chapel and saw the light. Now I'm a ninth-degree Blackbelt taking care of business for a small research and development firm in Phoenix, AZ. I also can't eat anything but management training books and I can see through walls. Would you like to borrow my Tracy Chapman record? THANK YOU TONY ROBBINS!
