Six Sigma Tool Navigator: The Master Guide for Teams

Tool description

A presentation is an activity from which both team participants and process owners receive benefits. Presentations show a team's progress, achievement, or proposal for action. Another purpose for a presentation is to obtain approvals and commitments from the organization's decision makers.

Typical application

• To report on a team's progress.

• To communicate essential information.

• To update management on projects, changes, or potential problems areas.

Problem-solving phase

Typically used by

before

• Audience Analysis

• Information Needs Analysis

• Case Study

• Critical Incident

• Brainstorming

after

• Different Point of View

• Run-It-By

• Starbursting

• Interview Technique

• Resource Requirement Matrix

Notes and key points

• When preparing and making a presentation avoid the following:

  • Unnecessary information

  • Unfamiliar jargon or acronyms

  • Putting others on the spot

  • Blaming people or departments

  • Bypassing levels of responsibility

  • Visuals with information overload

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 Periodically a team decides to present the status of its problem-solving efforts. A presentation can also be arranged by any group that wishes to communicate important information to a particular audience.

• STEP 2 The team selects a participant to take overall responsibility to coordinate the activities required to develop and conduct the presentation.

• STEP 3 The presentation is developed using a checklist. See example Preparing a Presentation.

• STEP 4 The rest of the team assists in the completing of the action items as shown in the checklist.

• STEP 5 The presenter rehearses the presentation with the team. This provides the opportunity for team members to critique the presentation and then rehearse and fine tune it for maximum effectiveness.

Example of tool application

Preparing a Presentation