2000 Interviews

6σ and leadership

Bossidy, Lawrence A.; Hart, Roger; Schacht, Henry B.

Six Sigma focuses on customer satisfaction, emphasizes data driven analysis, strives for product and process improvements and requires senior management involvement. But so does the standard Total Quality Management effort. What is different here? On March 7, 2000 the Center on Japanese Economy and Business, the W. Edwards Deming Center for Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness, and the Conference Board's Global Center for Performance Excellence hosted a symposium to explore the relationship between Six Sigma and Leadership and to see what it takes for successful institutionalization of this effort. The symposium featured Larry Bossidy, Chairman of Honeywell; Roger Hart, Director of Quality and Six Sigma, Sony Electronics; and Henry Schacht, former Chairman and CEO, Lucent Technologies. Professor Peter Kolesar, Professor of Management Science and Operations Management, Columbia Business School, served as commentator. The symposium was moderated by Nelson Fraiman, Professor of Management Science and Operations Management, Columbia Business School. Excerpts of their presentations are presented below, along with high-lights of the intra-panel and audience discussions.