| The deployment however is not an easy task | | | | tool can also be used for improving communications |
| because, in most companies, there is a huge | | | | between the IT department and the functional |
| communications gap between people who actually run | | | | departments such as sales, purchasing, production, |
| the business and people who might be responsible for | | | | inventory, accounting, and others. |
| designing, developing, and deploying the desired IT | | | | The only requirement is that the standard SIPOC |
| systems. | | | | diagram needs to be tweaked a bit in order to make it |
| What this implies is that if the people who actually run | | | | more easy to use and understandable for all the |
| the day to day operations fail to convey their exact | | | | stakeholders involved. |
| needs and requirements to the IT people, it would | | | | Benefits of SIPOC Diagrams |
| become very difficult for the IT professionals to design | | | | The tweaked SIPOC diagram acts as a guideline, |
| and develop the most appropriate software tools or | | | | detailing each and every business requirement in |
| applications. | | | | understandable language which makes it easier for all |
| The opposite is also true in that if the IT professionals | | | | parties involved to have the same view of the |
| fail to provide the necessary details of the ongoing | | | | selected project. IT people continue to make |
| project to the concerning authority, it would become | | | | appropriate additions to the diagram as the project |
| quite difficult to assess and certify the suitability and | | | | progresses and achieves new milestones. This helps in |
| effectiveness of the project in question. | | | | getting timely feedback and input from the functional |
| Lack of proper input can affect vital modifications that | | | | departments. |
| are the norm for every IT project and are necessary | | | | New business requirements can also be added to the |
| for designing and developing a useful IT system. | | | | diagram if the management and IT department think |
| How Do Six Sigma SIPOC Diagrams Help In These | | | | that the requirements can be included without any |
| Matters? | | | | major overhauls or are necessary. Not all requirements |
| Businesses need not worry too much because they | | | | can be satisfied within a given IT framework and this is |
| can easily avoid such negative developments by | | | | why it is necessary to seek the approval of the IT |
| deploying time tested Six Sigma tools and techniques | | | | department before adding any new requirements to |
| such as SIPOC diagrams. SIPOC, short for "Suppliers, | | | | the SIPOC diagram. |
| Inputs, Process, Output, Customers," was originally | | | | So, instead of investing huge amounts in IT training, it |
| devised as a tool for communicating the true essence | | | | would be better if companies utilize Six Sigma SIPOC |
| of the entire business process to the stakeholders | | | | diagrams for improving communications. If used in the |
| such as the employees, middle management officials, | | | | prescribed manner, SIPOC can prove far more |
| functional managers, and top-rung officials. | | | | effective than other methods of improving |
| The main aim was to clear any doubts that might | | | | communications, not to mention the avoidance of |
| impede the timely completion of the associated Six | | | | employee disgruntlement normally associated with |
| Sigma implementation project. SIPOC developers may | | | | company sponsored training sessions. |
| have never thought about it, but the reality is that this | | | | |