If you're thinking about changing the way you run your business, it's important to choose a streamlined methodology and one that works for you, not against you. With that said, there are many ways to manage your projects - Waterfall, Agile, Scrum - the list goes on! That's why we teamed up with TechnologyAdvice to bring you this helpful comparison of Six Sigma and Lean methodologies, check it out:

Six Sigma

Six Sigma is not so much a project management methodology as a methodology that can be applied to project management. Like Waterfall, Six Sigma follows a phase progression and seeks to improve profits through standardization. Six Sigma’s favored use of the DMAIC approach to problem-solving (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control) leads to a heavy reliance on statistical data analysis.

Advantages

Unlike Waterfall, the focus of Six Sigma is not to hone the process, but to control it. In Six Sigma thinking, everything should work as a process, not just specific projects. Therefore, it is not about improving one project, but the overarching, big picture process. A Six Sigma manager looks to improve quality, product, and service on a larger scale.

Challenges

The biggest downfall for Six Sigma is that it is not a stand-alone, all-encompassing project management methodology. This is because it is not, as previously stated, a project management methodology at all, but a systematic philosophy that can be applied to project management. Given that project management is meant for projects as temporary exploits, the big-picture view here does not cleanly fall into a neat little project management box, much less wrapped with a bow.

Best Suited For

If you are looking for a standardized, controlled process to improve your product, services, and/or quality, work Six Sigma into your project management plan. The definitive metrics of Six Sigma are ideal for producers who need firm numbers on output, controlled production, and a better understanding of customer requirements.

Lean

Lean project management originated with Toyota and is the most human-centric and flexible methodology of three we’ve examined thus far. Rather than focus on perfecting a process, Toyota decided to invest in their people, who would then be able to better intuit improvements and trim the fat to reveal the leanest process and best results. If Waterfall is built on structure and Six Sigma factors in data, Lean’s main attraction is subtraction.

Advantages

This style identifies and extricates superfluous aspects of the process. Whereas other methods base production on perceived or forecasted demand, Lean project management bases production on actual demand, leading to major reduction in both overhead and waste. Another strong advantage in the Lean court is the focus on employee growth and engagement. By investing in employees, Lean project managers improve not just the process, but the entire work environment.

Challenges

For some, the Lean approach is too little too late. Because Lean bases production on actual demand, projects may not be completed with the timeliness expected from years working with the tried and true Waterfall system. In this way, the flexibility can be more of a deterrent than a perk for some projects.

Best Suited For

The overall trimmed-down process, with its reduced waste and overhead, suits both companies with limited resources and those focused on green initiatives. On the flipside, larger companies looking to build and nurture organizational culture would do well to look into Lean’s people-first practices.

We know, just like you do, that choosing a project management platform to complement your chosen style can be quite hard and overwhelming. That's why we're offering a free trial of Accleo's adaptive project management system today - so that you can get a feel for streamlined processes and start running your business with ease.