| Six Sigma concepts were originally developed | | | | software developers. Many people believe that |
| for use in the manufacturing sector, but are | | | | Six Sigma is only limited to the use of |
| now increasingly being used in the services | | | | statistical methods. What they do not know is |
| sector as well. Use of Six Sigma concepts in | | | | that Six Sigma follows a disciplined approach |
| the software industry has become quite | | | | that can solve any type of problem, whether |
| common, but what many people do not know is | | | | it is quantitative or qualitative. This is |
| that Six Sigma concepts can also be used in | | | | evident from software companies that have |
| software implementation. People who have | | | | successfully employed Six Sigma concepts in |
| experience in software implementation | | | | solving qualitative problems that arise |
| projects know that such projects often do not | | | | during software implementation projects. |
| take off as planned and may be subjected to | | | | |
| schedule overruns and recurring problems. | | | | Generating Schedule Estimates |
| This is why many software companies opt for | | | | |
| employing Six Sigma concepts during the | | | | Schedule estimation is another common problem |
| process of software implementation at a | | | | faced during software implementation. |
| client's site. | | | | Mistakes in schedule estimation can affect |
| | | | the outcome of an implementation project; as |
| Common Implementation Problems | | | | such projects are often required to be |
| | | | completed in a specific timeframe and within |
| The two most common problems faced during | | | | available budgets. Implementation projects |
| software implementation projects include | | | | are often delayed because planners make the |
| customer requirement problems and schedule | | | | implementation schedule without considering |
| estimation problems. By employing Six Sigma | | | | indirect factors that might affect the |
| concepts in software implementation projects, | | | | project. Planners often fail to foresee that |
| professionals can better understand the needs | | | | implementation can get affected due to the |
| and business objectives of the client. This | | | | size of the software, location where it is |
| way, they can make sure that the software | | | | being implemented, internal politics, |
| implementation project is successfully | | | | authority, and governance. |
| completed within the stipulated timeframe. | | | | |
| Employing Six Sigma will also ensure that no | | | | Employing Six Sigma concepts in preparing |
| additional costs are incurred during the | | | | schedule estimations will help planners to |
| implementation process. | | | | effectively include all these factors which |
| | | | may indirectly affect software implementation |
| Understanding Client Requirements | | | | projects. Based on the past records of the |
| | | | client, Six Sigma statistical tools will |
| Software products are normally designed for | | | | generate an efficiency chart, which provides |
| increasing the efficiency of a business | | | | details about all types of problems faced |
| process in accordance with the goals and | | | | with the client during software |
| objectives of the client. Most of the | | | | implementation projects. The chart displays |
| problems related to the software arise during | | | | the time taken to resolve such problems and |
| the implementation stage when the client | | | | techniques that were employed to solve such |
| finds out that the software is unable to | | | | problems. |
| achieve desired objectives. This situation | | | | |
| arises when the client passes vague | | | | The chart also displays any additional time |
| information about requirements to software | | | | or costs that went into the completion of the |
| developers or when developers are unable to | | | | project. Planners can use the information |
| clearly comprehend client requirements. | | | | given in the chart for giving due |
| | | | consideration to all the indirect factors |
| Six Sigma helps in avoiding problems during | | | | that can affect software implementations. |
| the software implementation stage by bridging | | | | This will help in generating true schedule |
| the gap between actual requirements of the | | | | estimates, necessary for the success of |
| client and what is eventually understood by | | | | software implementation projects. |