Professional Development

  Is a Six Sigma Black Belt worth it?   You probably already know we’re going to say “yes”. The interesting thing about this article is that through reading the reasons for “yes”, you’ll be able to decide whether a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is a step worth taking for your career and professional development.     Are you ready for a Black Belt? One of the most important factors in deciding whether a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is worth it for you is to think about whether it’s the next natural step in your career.   Do you already have experience with Lean Six Sigma? The role of Black Belt is reserved for those who are confident, capable, and educated in the use of process improvement tools and techniques.   If you’re new to the concept of Lean Six Sigma and process improvement, it may be wiser to begin with a Yellow Belt or Green Belt certification.   Six Sigma Black Belt & Your Career ...

When you think of what a trainer does, it’s likely that the skills needed by a trainer are the first things that spring to mind - training needs analysis (TNA), training programme design, ability to use PowerPoint, communication skills etc. These are all important for successful training, but it’s also crucial to consider the responsibilities of a trainer. What must a trainer be aware of while training? How should they support their trainees? What is the best way for a trainer to achieve their aims? Here, we review 4 responsibilities all trainers must be aware of as they plan and carry out training programmes. 4 Responsibilities of Trainers 1. Being Prepared and Organised This is both a courtesy to your trainees and a support for your own benefit. Considering all aspects of preparation and organisation means that everyone involved will have a smoother training experience. These aspects may include: - completing a TNA (training needs anal...

Unless you’re familiar with, or work within the arena of project management, it may seem like a broad, even vague term. Here, we’ll examine project management in a little more detail. We’ll look at the key benefits of project management to understand why it’s such an important part of any business. Projects are Everywhere The default is often to think of projects as long-term, detailed undertakings. Perhaps they seem relegated to the corporate world. Maybe you feel that they have no bearing on your work or day-to-day life. In truth, projects are everywhere. Much of what we do is already immersed in projects. Think of both your working life and your personal life. Are there any ideas or goals you’re working to accomplish? Is there anything new you’re striving to learn? Are you trying to change or improve anything? If yes, then you’re already working on mini-projects. Wouldn’t it be good to know how to run these projects more effectively? Now, we have arrived a...

There are so many different paths for training and certifying at Lean Six Sigma Green Belt level. It can be difficult to decide on the right course or accreditation. We believe that there is no “one size fits all” choice. There are merits to all paths in learning these transformational tools. Here, we take a look at what our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt courses bring to the table. An Intensive Approach We deliver our courses in a short, focused time frame. This helps participants to give their full attention to the training. The compact timescale makes training easier to fit into a hectic schedule. Our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt course takes place over 5 consecutive days.  Practical Skills & Theoretical Knowledge There is no getting around the fact that there will always be a sizeable amount of theory involved with studying Lean Six Sigma. To keep training engaging and make the theory digestible, we take a blended approach of practical and theoretical learning ...

Scrum has become one of the most popular ways to manage a project in any business sector, and in every kind of organisation. This project management framework is a responsive method for handling projects with continually changing or difficult-to-define criteria. It’s also a perfect choice for project teams that work in a fast-paced environment. Let’s take a look at the following 6 benefits of Scrum project management to understand a little about how it works. You may also get a sense of why it might be an excellent fit for your team’s next project. 6 Benefits of Scrum Project Management Responds Well to Change Scrum is the most popular sub-set of Agile. Agile is a flexible approach for project management . Scrum is one of the frameworks we use to implement Agile principles. As Scrum was created by software developers, it is sharply focused on welcoming change. Scrum Teams understand that in today’s fast-paced business...

What is Agile? Agile is a flexible, phased approach to project management that focuses on responding easily to change and delivering value early and often.   It’s a methodology that originated with the Agile Manifesto in 2001, and has sky-rocketed in popularity ever since. Agile: Suited to All Businesses Although Agile started out in the IT sector and was created by software developers, it is suited to all businesses and organisations. It’s also applicable to almost any kind of project. Whether you use Agile training only, or combine it with more conventional approaches to project management (PRINCE2 Ó , Project Management Institute (PMI) Ó framework etc.), you’ll find that elements of Agile can always help the productivity of your project. Take a look at the 7 Benefits below to see how Agile really makes a difference in project work. 7 Benefits of Agile: How can Using Agile Help your Project? 1.      Respond Quickly a...