ISSSP Annual Six Sigma Leadership Conference

LC 2004: A Delegates Diary

Under the warm, June, Scottsdale, Arizona sun, leading thinkers in Six Sigma and high-impact business improvement strategy gathered for four days to exchange ideas and share their collective experience with hundreds of delegates from around the globe.

I recently had the opportunity, or more accurately, the privilege to attend the 5th Annual Six Sigma Leadership Conference hosted by the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals, (ISSSP).

This much-anticipated annual event, which featured keynote presentations from James McNerney, Chairman and CEO, 3M and Dr. Stephen R. Covey, best-selling author of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", provided e-Zsigma with the opportunity to speak with the delegates, as well as participate in many of the over sixty presentations and workshops that spanned such diverse topics as "The Business Case for Emotional Intelligence" to "Six Sigma Applications in a Renal Transplantation Process".

For those of you within the global Six Sigma community who could not attend, many of the proceedings and presentations can be found at ISSSP's website: http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc_presentations&show=2180. 

For this edition of the Six Sigma Newsletter, we have prepared the following journal, which might best be entitled, "Six Sigma Leadership Conference 2004: A Delegates Diary". We hope that, after reading this short narrative, you too, will have been able to experience a little of what most certainly will be referred to by many in the months to come as THE Six Sigma conference event of 2004.

 --------------------------------

"SIX SIGMA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2004: A DELEGATES DIARY"

Day 1: Tuesday, June 1, 2004

Have you ever arrived at a new destination, where you have this immediate and pronounced sense that you have been there before? That for some inexplicable reason, you are enveloped with a sense of familiarity, even when surrounded with the foreign? That was my experience, many years ago, when I first traveled to Phoenix, Arizona to attend a training program for this "new thing" called Six Sigma, hosted by Dr. Mikel Harry at his renowned Academy in Scottsdale, (see www.6-sigma.com).

Even in this day of heightened airport security procedures, and the seemingly unavoidable delays and waits this imposes on air travelers in the 21st century, I still look forward to flying into Phoenix's Sky Harbor International, the sixth busiest airport in the United States. While that original sense of familiarity has been replaced by the first-hand experience of repeated visits over the years, in those final few moments, as our sleek Airbus A320's efficient jet engines power down and we descend under crystal-clear, blue skies, onto the sun-drenched runway, I am greeted with a sense of returning home and the new adventures that await.

In this case, the adventure is my participation at the 5th Annual Six Sigma Leadership Conference, hosted by the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals, ("I, triple-S, P"). I have chosen the word, "participation" purposely, since delegates at this annual event do not merely attend… they actually do participate, and therein lies the adventure. Having already reviewed the agenda in advance, http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc04_program, I knew that this year's event, having built on their experience over the last four years, promised to surpass previous conference successes.

Air Canada, www.aircanada.ca, has provided a thoroughly enjoyable flight experience, with both on-time departure and arrival, and I can't resist thinking that they have recently adopted Six Sigma as their business improvement strategy for the future… Here's hoping that all of their future flights can be as flawless as this one.

This year's conference was hosted at the spectacular Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch. Rather than attempt to describe this world-class facility and resort to you now, I encourage you to briefly visit their website at http://scottsdale.hyatt.com/property/hotelinfo/slideshow/index.jhtml and review their on-line "slide show"… a picture is worth a thousand words. Who would have thought that Arizona could have so much water!

It seems that every ISSSP event I go to, the first person I bump into is their President and Founder, Roxanne O'Brasky. I am not sure how Roxanne manages to cover so much territory, but I am grateful for the warm welcome and radiant smile that greeted me upon my arrival at the hotel door.

In less than thirty minutes, I am ready and eager to begin my coverage of the conference, as well as look up some old friends and colleagues. My first port of call is the "Benchmarking Forum", attended by forty to fifty of the early-arriving delegates to the conference. This workshop provided attendees with their first opportunity to share their experiences with others and compare notes. As the enthusiasm for the discussions on benchmarking Six Sigma performance grew, it is obvious that the name for this year's ISSSP conference, "Discover", was aptly chosen. The next three days promises to be a voyage of discovery, indeed!

"The Outback Oasis"

Our first evening in Scottsdale is spent under the backdrop of one of the many, fabulous peaks that dot the Phoenix landscape, where ISSSP President, Roxanne O'Brasky, is hosting a networking reception at her personal residence, "The Outback Oasis", (as proclaimed to visitors by way of the large welcome mat at the front door). Gathered around an inviting swimming pool, as a local talented guitarist played many of our favorite songs, we mingled, chatted, dined, and sipped on our preferred beverages. With most of us rapidly adjusting to Phoenix's June temperatures, that range from an average "low" of 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius), to an average high of 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39 Celsius), the cool, evening breeze and good company provides a great ending to our first day.

Day 2: Wednesday, June 2, 2004

"Wake Up To Life"

Dawn comes early to many of the delegates as we take advantage of a new feature of the ISSSP conference, the "Wake Up to Life" event. ISSSP has arranged with two local entrepreneurs, Joelle Hadley, founder of The Culture Coaches, and Bobi Seredich, founder of Equanimity, to host events, that will focus on the importance of balancing work and life, (see http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc04_lbvh).

Editor's Note: An brief interview with Bobi and her work with Equanimity will be featured in our July Newsletter.

After convening in the lobby of the hotel at 5:30am, (thank goodness for the 3 hour time zone advantage I have!), our group is transported to the "base camp" of Pinnacle Peak, from where we will make our ascent.

The brief hike at this extremely popular park, http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/pinnacle/, was enjoyed by everyone who attended, proving that it was, in fact, a great way to wake up to life!

Back to the Conference…

One of the challenges that each delegate has to face at this year's conference is the decision as to which workshop one should attend. At any given time, there might have been up to nine different workshops running simultaneously, with topics ranging from "Six Sigma in Sales and Marketing" to "Six Sigma Applications in a Renal Transplantation Process". This constituted a Six Sigma smorgasbord!

The high point of the day comes in the afternoon, when James McNerney, Chairman and CEO of 3M Corporation provides the Opening Keynote Address. At one point, Mr. McNerney spoke of the misconception that Six Sigma changes your company: "It doesn't. What Six Sigma does is give you the tools to implement whatever strategy you have…" A powerful and engaging speaker, McNerney spends much of his time discussing 3M's journey into Six Sigma, and how it has been woven into their culture and organization.

At the conclusion of Mr. McNerney's presentation, he is presented with ISSSP's prestigious Annual Six Sigma Leadership Award, placing him in good company with prior years recipients, Jack Welch, Larry Bossidy, and Dan Burnham… each are extraordinary business leaders and visionaries in their own right.

Note: Visit ISSSP at http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc_presentations&show=2180 to view a video of James McNerney's presentation.

"The Exhibitionists"

Since e-Zsigma's launch of the first web-based "My e-Zsigma Enterprise Management Suite" at IQPC's Six Sigma Summit in January, 2001, the Six Sigma community has come a long way. At that time, you would have only expected a handful of companies in attendance, offering a limited number of product or service offerings. This year's ISSSP Leadership Conference allows the delegates to view as well as test a rich and varied array of technologies and service offerings, as well as get a glimpse into what the future holds in store for Six Sigma… or vice versa. Of course, conference sponsors and exhibitors make sure that delegates go home with "goodie bags", with many of the attendees overheard discussing how they are going to manage to fit all their swag into the luggage they have brought with them.

"Fun and Frolic in Phoenix"

A regular, and not-to-miss feature of the ISSSP Leadership Conference, is the "Special Entertainment" event that takes place the evening of the first "official" day of the conference. Last year's event featured a "Six Sigma Saloon" complete with an authentic western bar, cowboy hats, bales of hay, and a foot-stompin' country band. This year, the event took on a "games room" theme, including card tables, dart boards, mini-putt, arcade games, and, of course, pool tables. This, along with dancing to the sounds of a talented pop/rock band, and enjoying a wide array of food and beverages, made for a night of "fun après sun" for all the conference delegates, including yours truly.

Day 3: Thursday, June 3, 2004

Now, I had every intention of going to the "Wake Up to Life" hike at Pinnacle Peak this morning at 5:00am, but… the "wake up" thing just didn't happen for me - even with the 3 hour time zone advantage I had. By all accounts from my friends at Instantis, however, it was another smashing success.

Amazingly, today's program is as busy as yesterdays, and I am, once again, struggling over which workshops I want to attend. Should it be "Best Practices in Lean Six Sigma Deployment" or "The Value of Standard Operations Reference Models in the Adaptive Enterprise"? If I attend BMG's Ilona Kirzhner's workshop on "Hybrid Learning", I will miss Lee Pollock from Air Academy Associates' presentation on "Six Sigma Applications in a Renal Transplantation Process". Eventually, I do make my program decisions and the rest of the day I can be seen doing my imitation of a sponge… soaking up as much information as I can.

While several key presentations and panel discussions are held in the main conference hall, the majority of the workshops, case studies and roundtable discussions take place in smaller rooms, allowing for more interaction and discussion between the delegates.

"Go Flames, Go!"

While many delegates take advantage of the evening "Dine Around" event where conference delegates are encouraged to explore the Scottsdale nightlife, I manage to hook up with my friends from Minitab, including the legendary Zeeman. (Did I mention that Chris and JP from Minitab, talented musicians in their spare time, managed to climb up on stage last night and play a few tunes?) Taking advantage of a popular local bar and eatery to enjoy some libations, great food and Arizona hospitality, we are able to watch the pinnacle of hockey, the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Of course, I cheered on the Calgary Flames, who went on to win game 5 that evening, (see http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=240603020). In Calgary, the bars were pandemonium, while here in sunny Arizona… Oh well, to their credit, Phoenix does have the Coyotes, not to mention our "Great One", Wayne Gretzky. Thanks for the eats and treats Dr. Z.!

Day 4: Friday, June 4, 2004

To make up for my missed "Wake Up To Life" hike yesterday morning, I am ready to get a good start to this final day of the conference by attending the 6:00am relaxation and stress management session led by Joelle Hadley, founder of The Culture Coaches. Speaking as someone who has long-forgotten what their toes look like and whose stretching is relegated to reaching for the coffee cup at the back of the cupboard, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience… in fact, this could be the start of a new lifestyle for me! Joelle takes our class through deep-breathing relaxation exercises, meditation, and stretching. It really is a great way to start the day, and I hope the "Wake Up to Life" events will become a permanent feature of future ISSSP Leadership Conferences.

The highlights of today were, in fact, two events focused on one extraordinary individual… the world-renowned Dr. Stephen Covey, perhaps best known for his number one selling book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People".

After a superb early-morning patio breakfast, (where any health benefits I received from our short session with Joelle at "Wake Up to Life" were most-certainly lost), the delegates, including yours truly, have a chance to meet Dr. Covey and obtain his autograph. While most of the delegates produce copies of more-recent publications from Dr. Covey's, such as "Principle Centered Leadership", a few of us "veterans" proudly hand over coffee-stained, well-worn copies of Dr. Covey's 1989 "7 Habits" book…. I call us sentimental… most of the other delegates call us "cheap"!

"Guest Program"

In addition to inviting the spouses of delegates to this wonderful breakfast with Dr. Covey, ISSSP organized events throughout the week for spouses and family as part of their encouraging delegates to bring their families to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness that is Arizona. For more on the Spouse or Guest program, please visit http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc04_spouse_program.

"Last Call for Six Sigma, Y'all"

Typical of the previous days of the conference, this morning was spent choosing between a variety of valuable "Breakout Sessions", and ended with a general session in the main hall that focused on Leadership and Executive Development.

Later in the morning, Dr. Covey takes to the stage and in a style that can only be his, he provides an entertaining, engaging, and thoroughly relevant presentation, "Cracking the Code: Unleashing Human Potential", complete with amusing, yet poignant video clips that draw riotous laughter from an entranced audience. While Dr. Covey's complete presentation is available at ISSSP's website, here is a brief description which I have borrowed from the ISSSP program guide:

"Would you say that the vast majority of people in the workplace possess far more creativity, resourcefulness, ingenuity, intelligence, and talent than their jobs require or even allow? 90-plus percent of hundreds of thousands of people surveyed in organizations around the world say yes. In a time when individuals and organizations are under extreme pressure to do more with less, why are we straitjacketing human potential? Learn how many managers and organizations unknowingly stifle their people. Learn how to unleash the power of human potential by "Cracking the Code" of what truly drives individuals and inspires passion and productivity within them. Learn of the four parts of human nature and how to discover and develop the highest intelligences associated with each. Unleash your organization's full potential by aligning the individual's "voice" (unique talent, contribution to the world) with the organization's voice."

With this last keynote presentation by Dr. Covey, and final remarks as well as words of gratitude and thanks from ISSSP President, Roxanne O'Brasky, to delegates, presenters, sponsors, and her ISSSP support team, the 2004 Six Sigma Leadership Conference draws to a close. The exhibitors retire to tear down their booths, packing them away for the long trip home. Friends, both old as well as new, say their final good-byes, and each, like the proverbial western heroes that fit so well into the Arizona landscape, ride off into the sunset, taking with them their stories and lessons from THE six sigma event of the year.

Above: Moonrise over Scottsdale.

IMPORTANT: Video or slide presentations from the Leadership Conference are available to ISSSP members and can be viewed at http://www.isssp.com/lc04.asp?page=lc_presentations&show=2180.

Conference Gallery

Above: Six Sigma Benchmarking Workshop

Above: : "Breakout session: 6S and Innovation": (Left to Right) Rear: Greg Atwater, Sophia Pombrik, Deepak Naik. Front: Colin Smart, Russell Huffer.

Above: "Wake Up to Life" Pinnacle Peak Hiking Team

Above: One of the highlights of the Pinnacle Peak hike was a cane flute performance.

Above: 3M Chairman & CEO, James McNerney's presentation to a packed house.

Above: A chance to speak one-on-one with James McNerney during the “Leadership Luncheon”!

Above: Main Exhibition Hall – the latest in Six Sigma and Lean Sigma services and technologies.

Above: J.P. of Minitab calculating the probability of sinking the cue ball… The other way, JP!

Above: Kids of all ages were kicking up their heels to a great band!

Above: Don Redinius of Savvi Sigma, www.savvisigma.com, facilitating a roundtable discussion on “Thinking for Six Sigma – How to connect with Everyone in the Organization at the Level of their Priorities, Problems and Goals”.

Above: A chance for one-on-one coaching - Chris Anderson of Pragmatek, discussing elements of the Predictive Index© Profile with Heather Haas of Bob Wilson and Associates.

Above: Joelle Hadley of The Culture
Coaches showing us how to get in
touch with our inner selves.

Above: Dr. Stephen Covey autographs his book for a delighted delegate.