Lean six Sigma Office critically explored. Suggestions for application to Vinci Energies Academy.

Abstract

This work which serves as a final paper for obtaining the degree of Master of Business Administration targets office leaders, office team members, improvement methodology consultants, business school students & professors, and more generally anyone who has an interest in striving through a methodological way towards business success while improving employee well-being as well as customer satisfaction.

Today, customer satisfaction and business success are more than often achieved by employees through the performance of long working days and heavy workloads at the office. This can lead to a higher likeliness of periods of physical or mental illness, resulting in a reduced net positive effect of the efforts made and even leading to endangering a business’ continuity. Therefore, other methods to make a business more successful should be looked out for and investigated.

The applied method during this final paper project to do so is to first explore the state-of-the-art improvement theories of Lean, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma, and their application to the office environment. Secondly, the theories and concepts found are critically questioned where needed. So it is that special attention is drawn to the importance of obtaining a balance between efficiency efforts on the one hand, and the effectivity involved with any improvement action on the other hand. Thirdly, a practical experience at Vinci Energies Academy is performed through team member interviews to verify the relevance of the explored theory for real life office situations. Recommendations are made for possible further improvements of the Academy’s office functioning.

Based on the practical experience, we can conclude that the theory and many of the tools of Lean Six Sigma applied to the office are relevant for the Academy. If used correctly, particularly by striving to efficiency in an effective way, Lean Six Sigma Office can be a working methodology and should be at least considered as a possibly valid solution for long working days and high employee workload, and the negative effects that come with it. This paper does not provide a conclusive answer on whether or not implementing Lean Six Sigma Office reduces occasions of physical or mental employee illness, although chances are real. This requires further empirical work where suggestions similar to the ones made for Vinci Energies Academy are implemented and monitored in multiple offices where occasions of burnouts do occur.

Independently of the need for further research, just as for Vinci Energies Academy, it is recommendable to any office environment to apply Lean and Six Sigma to the office using the four steps of Stabilization, Standardization, Visualization, and Continuous Improvement, at all times taking into account the needed balance of efficiency and effectivity.