This is the third article of the series to explain how Lean Six Sigma methods can be used to overcome the seven barriers listed in a recent T+D Magazine article.  Specifically, this article addresses the second barrier, “our (Learning Management System) LMS does not have a useful evaluation tool”.

A survey of over twenty Learning Management Systems supports this barrier. Indeed, none have a useful evaluation tool that ties back in to management directed results. A handful of systems do indeed have performance management or talent inventory and tracking features, but none truly evaluates the contribution of the training to results.  Those results would include those Critical to Cost, Critical to Schedule, or Critical to Quality.

Most of these systems do a very good job in managing the training process, progress reporting, scheduling, content management, student evaluation, test generation, and a host of other functions.  They are very powerful systems indeed.

We cannot be restricted in our thinking.  We may be bound to a particular LMS due to legacy, budget, or familiarity. The fact that our software does not provide the evaluation tool does not excuse the Lean Six Sigma Methods from collecting the data.  It may not be easy, but it is still necessary as noted by ranking in the original T+D article.

Imagine being on the newest, most technical cruise ship in the world. On board are navigation computers, food preparation software, entertainment systems, power systems monitoring equipment, the finest in climate control and a host of video and casino games. Excusing the Lean Six Sigma methods from evaluating training is like blaming the technical systems on the cruise ship for not being able to ascertain if you had fun.  You still need to develop your standards based on cost, value, food quality, entertainment, customer service, destination, and comfort.

Also, that cruise ship will sit at the dock until someone says, “Go That Way!” and then puts a captain on board capable of directing all the operations to get there.

Lean Six Sigma Methods do just that for you.  At the project definition, leadership contracts with the consultant to determine which way, “that way” is.  The signing of the project charter clearly identifies the captain and the roles of all others.

Last month’s article outlined how you determine the role of training in obtaining results. It showed how for one level of performance, you use simpler tools in determining you measurement systems.  For really drastic performance improvement, you need more sophisticated statistical analysis. To avoid being repetitive, that content will not be repeated here, but the reader is invited to review that work.

The consultant will have the team develop a measurement system that is focused on results critical to cost, schedule or quality. He will look at the entire support system, not just the training component and develop what is needed.

It may not be easy to determine the measurement tools, but again, that does not excuse the process from ignoring the need.  Once, a department store wanted to measure how popular their store displays were. They tried in vain with surveys, correlation to sales, spontaneous letters and articles in newspapers, but never came up with a consistent tool.  The janitor however knew exactly which were the most popular. Nose prints told him. Boring displays were easy to clean. Interesting ones had some finger prints.  The big successes had nose prints on them due to the crowds and the fact that the only way you could see the display was to put your nose on the glass.

Lean Six Sigma tools help us analyze nose print data. Count the prints. Measure their heights.  Do plot of which areas the nose prints were. Look for make-up smudges. Figure out what time of day they were added.  Now you can tell if children or adults were more drawn.  It is possible to tell if men or women wearing make-up found them interesting. If one area of the glass was dirtier, then it was more popular.

Low Lean Six Sigma goes further.  The statistical tools will tell if you computer animated, sound and light technical masterpiece is have results to the bottom line.  You can analyze nose print data against sales information and measure results.