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SkimaTalk OfficialCourse

StrategicHumanResourceManagement

Lesson5:BecomingaChangeAgent

KeyVocabulary/Concepts

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Becomefamiliarwiththefollowingwordsbeforethislesson’scasestudy

SixSigma

Originallydevelopedin1986byMotorola,thisbusinessmanagementstrategyisnowusedinmanydifferentindustries.Thisstrategyworkstowardimprovingthequalityofproductsandservicesproducedbyabusinessthroughtheremovalofdefectsanderrors.

GreenBelt/Black BeltsGreenBeltsaretheemployeeswhotakeupSixSigmaimplementationalongwiththeirotherjobresponsibilities.Green BeltsoperateundertheguidanceofBlackBelts.

Teacher instructions: Quickly review the key vocabulary with your student and answer any questions.

CaseStudy:GE’sSixSigmaInitiative

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Doyouseechangeasanopportunity orarisk?Why?Q

“Itisnotthestrongestorthemostintelligentwhowillsurvivebutthosewhocanbestmanagechange.” - CharlesDarwin

Changeisinevitableastheworld ischangingrapidly– duetoglobalizationandtechnologicalinnovation.Manypeople,however,don’t likechange,especiallywhenthingsseemtobegoingwell.

In1996,GEstartedacompany-wideinitiativetoimplementSixSigma.Theobjectivewasqualitycontrolandassuranceofproducts,but later,includedleadershipdevelopmentaswell.

Thiswasnotaneasyprojectto implementbecauseGE’srevenueandprofitwasgrowingrapidly.Drasticchangedidnotseemnecessaryformanyemployees.

Teacher instructions:- Ask your student to

summarize the case.- Ask the discussion

question. - Help your student

think through his / her idea and the reasoning behind it.

CaseStudy(continued)

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JackWelch,thenCEOofGE,calledSixSigmathemostambitioustaskthatthecompanyhadevertakenon,andtoldseniormanagerstoassignthebestpeoplefortheinitiative.

GEsupportedthisnewinitiativewitharewardssystem.“WhenwedidSixSigma,wewentoutwithamessagethatsaidifyouarenotatleastgreen-belt-certified,thenyouarenotgoingtogetaraise.That’sprettydramatic,andthatofcoursegetspeoplegreen-belt-certified.”*saidBillConaty,GE’sseniorvicepresidentofHRatthetime.

Inthefirstyear,GEtrained30,000employeesandspent$200milliononthetraining.By1999,SixSigmahadgeneratedmorethan$1billionineconomicvalue.“SixSigmaischangingthefundamentalcultureofthecompanyandthewaywedeveloppeople.”**saidJackWelch.

GE’sseniormanagerswerefirstreluctanttofollowtheSixSigmainitiative.Howwouldyouhavechanged theirattitude?Pleasepresentsomeideas.Q

*Source:workforce.com “GE'sPeoplePowerConatyMadeJackWelchaBeliever”** Source:JackWelch“Jack:StraightfromtheGut"

Teacher instructions:- Ask your student to

summarize the case.- Ask the discussion

question. - Help your student

think through his / her idea and the reasoning behind it.

- Answers may be related to the 4 roles mentioned on page 5.

Discussion:BecomingaChangeAgent

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According toHRguruDavidUlrich,tobeachangeagentwhodesignsandmanageschangeinanorganization,anHRprofessionalneedstobeactiveinthefollowing four roles:

• Catalyst/Champion/Sponsor

• Facilitator

• Designer

• Demonstrator

*Source:DavidUlrich“HumanResourceChampions”

DiscusshowJackWelchandBillConaty wereactiveinsomeoftheaboverolesduring theSixSigmainitiative.Q

Teacher instructions:- Ask your student to read the

information on this slide.- Ask the discussion question.

TakeawaysFromThisLesson

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ü Changehappens.Howonerespondstochangeisimportant.

ü Todesignandleadorganizationalchange,HRprofessionalsshouldactascatalysts/champions/sponsors,facilitators,designers,anddemonstrators.

Teacher instructions:- Review the takeaways with your student.

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EndofLessonWeHopeYouEnjoyedIt!