Improvement Insights Blog

The time and effort we spend on something seems to make us value it more. But what if there’s an easier way? It applies to Six Sigma more than you might think.

“Hi, I’m Jay Arthur, author of “Lean Six Sigma Demystified” and QI Macros [software].

“You know, we celebrate Labor Day, and it’s all about workers. I was reading a book called ‘The Friction Project,’ which was recommended by a friend; [in that book] they talk about ‘the Ikea effect.’ If you know anything about Ikea, you go in, you shop around, you look for something, you see a nice bed… well, you buy a kit and then you assemble it.

“Well, guess what? We attribute more value to things we help assemble. The things that take longer seem to be more valuable.

“I want you to get this idea that in Lean and Six Sigma are all these extended two-week and four-week Green Belt and Black Belt programs that make you invested, and you think that’s how it has to be. You’ve earned the ‘creds,’ but guess what? What if you could learn the key tools you need in a day and start making improvements? Maybe that’s a better way to go. I’m telling you, the ‘kaching’ you get from making improvements… (you know, it’s probably the most fun you can have with your clothes on) …is going out and using data to solve problems that seemed impossible to solve.

“So that’s my Improvement Insight; let’s go out and improve something this week… like let’s not attribute too much value to how much time we spend at doing something.”