Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Six Sigma in 3 Steps
It is not just the Green Belts and Black Belts who need to be trained, but the Master Black Belts and Champions as well. All of them are the foundations for creating the Six Sigma culture.
The training program for these businesses should be designed well to suit the needs of Six Sigma projects. A proper plan that ensures that all training needs are taken care of is vital to the business improvement process that they will be undertaking. Developing an effective training methodology should be the primary objective of any Six Sigma company.
Trainers can follow these three steps to make the training program uncomplicated and effective to develop future Six Sigma leaders.
1. Pre-training
2. Delivery
3. Feedback and analysis
Pre-training Preparation
The first thing to do before starting on the Six Sigma training schedule is to understand the customer’s expectations – in this case, the employees. By carrying out discussions with the people involved such as the deployment leader, trainee and future belts, more information and input can be given that can be used to develop and design Six Sigma training programs.
Training is a team activity and it is better to be prepared in advance with the knowledge about the participants. A plan with targets for each day of the training program can be used to observe the pace of the schedule.
The curriculum has to be a combination of games and exercises to ensure active participation and interest of all involved in training.
Delivery of Six Sigma Training
To be successful, Six Sigma training should have good delivery of the proper contents of the training material. With content, appropriate data will depend on the targeted trainees. Content for Green Belts will differ from content for Black Belts. Six Sigma is implemented serially as per DMAIC steps.
These being the underlying phases, the logical flow and their practical application has to be clearly explained. Carrying out exercises at the end of Six Sigma training sessions is useful to know the level of understanding of the trainees. They can also be given hands-on experience with the tools of the Six Sigma methodology.
For Six Sigma training to be effective, the proper delivery of the content is significant. The trainers should be well versed with the subject matter to make a convincing case for Six Sigma. The trainer’s style should be developed to suit the different types of participants.
Six Sigma trainers should hold the interest of the trainees throughout the program. Maintaining eye contact helps to create an informal and open session with participants. By giving examples related to the current work conditions, the participants will be able to understand the subject matter and the relevance of the training to their new roles.
To determine the understanding level of the employees, trainers should ask questions and encourage them to ask questions as well. The trainers may change the strategy if they find that a delivery style is not suitable for the current trainees.
Feedback and Analysis
At the end of the program, or even during Six Sigma training, feedback from the participants should be taken in order to determine their comfort level with the subject. This helps to improve future content, as well as facilitate changes in the way it is delivered by trainers.
At the end of Six Sigma Training, feedback allows companies to understand if the goals were met.
The training program for these businesses should be designed well to suit the needs of Six Sigma projects. A proper plan that ensures that all training needs are taken care of is vital to the business improvement process that they will be undertaking. Developing an effective training methodology should be the primary objective of any Six Sigma company.
Trainers can follow these three steps to make the training program uncomplicated and effective to develop future Six Sigma leaders.
1. Pre-training
2. Delivery
3. Feedback and analysis
Pre-training Preparation
The first thing to do before starting on the Six Sigma training schedule is to understand the customer’s expectations – in this case, the employees. By carrying out discussions with the people involved such as the deployment leader, trainee and future belts, more information and input can be given that can be used to develop and design Six Sigma training programs.
Training is a team activity and it is better to be prepared in advance with the knowledge about the participants. A plan with targets for each day of the training program can be used to observe the pace of the schedule.
The curriculum has to be a combination of games and exercises to ensure active participation and interest of all involved in training.
Delivery of Six Sigma Training
To be successful, Six Sigma training should have good delivery of the proper contents of the training material. With content, appropriate data will depend on the targeted trainees. Content for Green Belts will differ from content for Black Belts. Six Sigma is implemented serially as per DMAIC steps.
These being the underlying phases, the logical flow and their practical application has to be clearly explained. Carrying out exercises at the end of Six Sigma training sessions is useful to know the level of understanding of the trainees. They can also be given hands-on experience with the tools of the Six Sigma methodology.
For Six Sigma training to be effective, the proper delivery of the content is significant. The trainers should be well versed with the subject matter to make a convincing case for Six Sigma. The trainer’s style should be developed to suit the different types of participants.
Six Sigma trainers should hold the interest of the trainees throughout the program. Maintaining eye contact helps to create an informal and open session with participants. By giving examples related to the current work conditions, the participants will be able to understand the subject matter and the relevance of the training to their new roles.
To determine the understanding level of the employees, trainers should ask questions and encourage them to ask questions as well. The trainers may change the strategy if they find that a delivery style is not suitable for the current trainees.
Feedback and Analysis
At the end of the program, or even during Six Sigma training, feedback from the participants should be taken in order to determine their comfort level with the subject. This helps to improve future content, as well as facilitate changes in the way it is delivered by trainers.
At the end of Six Sigma Training, feedback allows companies to understand if the goals were met.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Invention of Bicycle
Millions of people the world over ride them, but who actually invented the bicycle? How did it come into being?
To answer this question David V. Herlihy has written a charming and entertaining history of the bicycle (a French word by the way), from the early 19th century right up to the current day. The book is handsomely presented with plenty of big, glossy reproductions.
Herlihy writes in a conservative, text book style, yet the material he presents is always so interesting that the book never dulls for a minute.
The Invention of the Draisine, or Velocipede
The first version of the bicycle, then called a 'Draisine' or 'velocipede', was created by the German Karl von Drais. His early bike was patented in 1818. His 1818 invention was also called a 'dandy horse' or hobby-horse. Made almost entirely out of wood, the machine had no pedals, so it was just pushed by foot along the ground.
As can be imagined, there were pros and cons with this early version of the bicycle. Going down hill was fine, but going uphill was useless. The draisine was originally a popular fad that soon died out. Obviously, due to its limited utility and hefty price, its vogue soon waned.
Pedals on Bicycles Enter the Scene
Interestingly, it took about another 50 years for the cause of the velocipede to be taken up again. This time it was France that was to make the next major contribution to the bicycle. By the late 1860s a velocipede with pedals attached to the front wheel was on the market.
The 1870s saw the invention of the penny-farthing, with the huge front wheel that facilitated quicker speeds. At this stage bicycles were still very much the domain of well-heeled recreational riders, dandies with money and time for the pursuit. The bicycle still awaited a more widespread popular usage.
The Introduction of the Safety-Bicycle
This came in the 1880s with the so-called 'safety-bicycle'. A chain system turning a back wheel allowed for a bike that was closer to the ground, hence protecting the rider from the dreaded 'croppers' - falling off the bike. Now the rider just had to put their feet to the ground to stabilise the bike and prevent a fall. This new development had a lot of appeal for women in particular, widening dramatically the popularity of the bicycle. (Indeed, a lot of feminists at the time talked up the benefits of cycling for women. American feminist Susan B. Anthony dubbed it a 'freedom machine'.)
The basic design of the safety model is the type ridden today. So things have not really changed that much since the 1880s. Sure there have been lots of important improvements, but the basic safety model has never been superseded.
The fortunes of the bicycle have waxed and waned over time. A new model or technological advancement creates a new spike in usage, which then tapers off. When bikes should have really taken off, with the invention of the safety bike, along came the car. The awesome popularity of the motor car forced the bike into the background as a recreational plaything. In tough economic times, however, the bike has experienced an upsurge in popularity. During the 1970s oil shocks, bike usage shot up.
Of course currently there is a new period of surging bike popularity. Environmental concerns, the obesity crisis and the volatility of oil prices are helping to make the bike appear an answer to a lot of these problems.
Another interesting historical fact in Mr Herlihy's book is the public hostility to bike riders. Since day one there have been consistent complaints about bike riders on footpaths and knocking innocent pedestrians over. Even policemen and judges were notoriously unforgiving of rogue cyclists. It seems things have not changed much.
There is much to recommend in this book. It is well researched, with the author quoting a lot of contemporary sources for attitudes to bikes and cyclists. Mr Herlihy has an eye for a quirky story or interesting detail, making sure he keeps his bicycle history a constant enjoyment.
Obsessive and recreational bike riders alike will find much fascinating reading Bicycle: The History. Full marks to Mr Herlihy for this brilliantly organised and researched history of the bicycle.
Bicycle: The History, by David V. Herlihy is published by Yale University Press, 2006.
To answer this question David V. Herlihy has written a charming and entertaining history of the bicycle (a French word by the way), from the early 19th century right up to the current day. The book is handsomely presented with plenty of big, glossy reproductions.
Herlihy writes in a conservative, text book style, yet the material he presents is always so interesting that the book never dulls for a minute.
The Invention of the Draisine, or Velocipede
The first version of the bicycle, then called a 'Draisine' or 'velocipede', was created by the German Karl von Drais. His early bike was patented in 1818. His 1818 invention was also called a 'dandy horse' or hobby-horse. Made almost entirely out of wood, the machine had no pedals, so it was just pushed by foot along the ground.
As can be imagined, there were pros and cons with this early version of the bicycle. Going down hill was fine, but going uphill was useless. The draisine was originally a popular fad that soon died out. Obviously, due to its limited utility and hefty price, its vogue soon waned.
Pedals on Bicycles Enter the Scene
Interestingly, it took about another 50 years for the cause of the velocipede to be taken up again. This time it was France that was to make the next major contribution to the bicycle. By the late 1860s a velocipede with pedals attached to the front wheel was on the market.
The 1870s saw the invention of the penny-farthing, with the huge front wheel that facilitated quicker speeds. At this stage bicycles were still very much the domain of well-heeled recreational riders, dandies with money and time for the pursuit. The bicycle still awaited a more widespread popular usage.
The Introduction of the Safety-Bicycle
This came in the 1880s with the so-called 'safety-bicycle'. A chain system turning a back wheel allowed for a bike that was closer to the ground, hence protecting the rider from the dreaded 'croppers' - falling off the bike. Now the rider just had to put their feet to the ground to stabilise the bike and prevent a fall. This new development had a lot of appeal for women in particular, widening dramatically the popularity of the bicycle. (Indeed, a lot of feminists at the time talked up the benefits of cycling for women. American feminist Susan B. Anthony dubbed it a 'freedom machine'.)
The basic design of the safety model is the type ridden today. So things have not really changed that much since the 1880s. Sure there have been lots of important improvements, but the basic safety model has never been superseded.
The fortunes of the bicycle have waxed and waned over time. A new model or technological advancement creates a new spike in usage, which then tapers off. When bikes should have really taken off, with the invention of the safety bike, along came the car. The awesome popularity of the motor car forced the bike into the background as a recreational plaything. In tough economic times, however, the bike has experienced an upsurge in popularity. During the 1970s oil shocks, bike usage shot up.
Of course currently there is a new period of surging bike popularity. Environmental concerns, the obesity crisis and the volatility of oil prices are helping to make the bike appear an answer to a lot of these problems.
Another interesting historical fact in Mr Herlihy's book is the public hostility to bike riders. Since day one there have been consistent complaints about bike riders on footpaths and knocking innocent pedestrians over. Even policemen and judges were notoriously unforgiving of rogue cyclists. It seems things have not changed much.
There is much to recommend in this book. It is well researched, with the author quoting a lot of contemporary sources for attitudes to bikes and cyclists. Mr Herlihy has an eye for a quirky story or interesting detail, making sure he keeps his bicycle history a constant enjoyment.
Obsessive and recreational bike riders alike will find much fascinating reading Bicycle: The History. Full marks to Mr Herlihy for this brilliantly organised and researched history of the bicycle.
Bicycle: The History, by David V. Herlihy is published by Yale University Press, 2006.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
6 Points to Writing a Great Bio
Writing a bio for a blog or a website need not be hard. Your online presence will be enhanced with a well written bio paired with a user picture. Use these easy points and you’ll be writing your bio with all the ease of a technical writer.
POINT OF VIEW
In writing a bio, it is important to use the right point of view. Your bio should be written as if someone else was writing it for you. A bio should be written in third person. You will want to refer to yourself in the he/she tense.
PERTINENT FACTS
A bio should be short and not wordy, listing facts only. A lengthy bio will frustrate the readers causing them to lose interest and stop reading. Decide what facts concerning your life are important to the bio. Prioritize this list of facts. Use only the most pertinent ones. Write your bio with tight sentences. Delete any extra words. Notice your verbs. Use strong active verbs in describing yourself.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
You want your bio to sound professional, so state who you are and what you do. Don’t list anything too personal, like your address or telephone number. Imagine introducing yourself to a stranger. What kind of information would you tell a stranger? Be careful what you share on any public forum. Only list general information about yourself, such as your career, the state you where you live, and what you like to do in your spare time.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE/ACHIEVEMENTS
Write in you bio any experiences which stand out or any notable achievements. If you’ve won awards based on skills or obtained a degree with honors, this is where you can brag a little…just a little, since you’re keeping the bio short and sweet. This part seems to be the toughest for people to write. No one wants to appear to be a braggart, but in this instance give yourself permission.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships to organizations tell others more about you. The fact that you are paying to be involved in a specific community shows what you’re interests are. If you belong to several of these groups, only list the ones most important to you.
PUT IN THE HOOK
Just like in a novel where every chapter ends with a hook, you’re bio should end with a thought-provoking hook. State something about yourself which is out of the ordinary. Have you accomplished something or performed something that is unusual? Maybe you like to travel to the Rain Forest? Maybe you have flown around the world? Whatever it may be, end on a positive note, which says something unique about you and sets you apart from everyone else. This step is optional.
CONCLUSION
A bio is a combination of personal information, experiences, achievements, and memberships written in third person point of view, using strong verbs. Combining these easy steps will help you in writing one of the hardest topics to write about…you.
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