What is a Project Sponsor?

A Six Sigma project sponsor plays a key role in Six Sigma methodology who provides overall support, guidance, and resources to ensure the success of a Six Sigma project. The project sponsor is typically a high-level executive or manager within the organization who has the authority to allocate resources and make decisions that affect the project.

The Benefits of a Project Sponsor

Having a dedicated project sponsor enhances the chances of project success by providing strategic alignment, resource allocation, decision-making authority, stakeholder management, support, and guidance. The sponsor’s involvement and leadership contribute to a more focused and effective project implementation, leading to improved process performance and organizational outcomes.

The responsibilities of a Project Sponsor

The sponsor ensures that the Six Sigma project aligns with the organization’s strategic goals and objectives. By providing strategic guidance and direction, the sponsor ensures that the project’s outcomes contribute to the overall success of the organization.

The sponsor is responsible for allocating the necessary resources, including budget, personnel, equipment, and data, required for the project. This ensures that the project team has the resources they need to carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently.

The sponsor has the authority to make critical decisions related to the project. This includes approving changes in scope, resources, timelines, and resolving conflicts or issues that may arise. Having a sponsor with decision-making power streamlines the project’s progress and helps overcome obstacles.

The sponsor plays a crucial role in managing stakeholders involved in the project. They communicate the importance of the project to other departments, stakeholders, and employees within the organization. The sponsor secures support from relevant parties and addresses any concerns or conflicts that may arise during the project.

The sponsor provides support and guidance to the project team throughout the project’s lifecycle. They offer expertise, advice, and mentorship to the project team members, helping them overcome challenges and make effective decisions.

The sponsor periodically reviews the project’s progress and performance, ensuring that it stays on track and aligned with expectations. This helps identify potential issues or deviations early on, allowing for timely corrective actions.

With a dedicated sponsor, the Six Sigma project gains visibility and credibility within the organization. The sponsor communicates the project’s importance and impact to other leaders and stakeholders, enhancing the project’s chances of success.

The sponsor helps remove barriers or obstacles that might hinder the progress of the project. They have the authority and influence to address roadblocks and provide necessary support to the project team, ensuring smooth project execution.

What is a Deployment Champion?

A Six Sigma deployment champion is an individual who takes a leadership role in the overall implementation and promotion of Six Sigma within an organization. This role is focused on driving the adoption and integration of Six Sigma principles, methodologies, and practices across various departments and functions.

The Benefits of a Deployment Champion

Having a dedicated deployment champion maximizes the chances of successful implementation and integration of Six Sigma within an organization. Their leadership, strategic alignment, change management expertise, and focus on continuous improvement contribute to improved process performance, enhanced organizational capabilities, and ultimately, better business outcomes.

Responsibilities of a Deployment Champion

The deployment champion collaborates with senior leadership to develop a strategic plan for implementing Six Sigma across the organization. This involves setting goals, defining key performance indicators (KPIs), and establishing a roadmap for the deployment process.

The champion facilitates change management efforts to ensure smooth adoption of Six Sigma. This involves assessing the organization’s readiness for change, identifying potential resistance, and developing strategies to overcome barriers to implementation.

The deployment champion oversees the training and education of employees at all levels of the organization on Six Sigma concepts, tools, and methodologies. They coordinate training programs and workshops to build a workforce that is knowledgeable and skilled in Six Sigma practices.

The champion is responsible for allocating resources such as budget, personnel, and infrastructure to support the implementation of Six Sigma projects. They ensure that the necessary resources are available to project teams to carry out their improvement initiatives effectively.

The deployment champion works with stakeholders and other Six Sigma professionals (BB and MBB)  to identify and prioritize projects that align with strategic objectives and have the potential for significant impact. 

The champion establishes performance metrics to monitor the progress and success of Six Sigma initiatives. They regularly review project performance, track KPIs, and provide reports to senior management to demonstrate the impact of Six Sigma on organizational performance.

The deployment champion facilitates the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and success stories across the organization. They create platforms for knowledge exchange, foster a culture of continuous learning, and encourage collaboration among project teams.

The deployment champion serves as a visible and active advocate for Six Sigma within the organization. They provide leadership, guidance, and support to project teams and sponsors, ensuring that Six Sigma projects receive the necessary attention and resources.

Project Sponsor vs. Deployment Champion in Six Sigma: What’s the Difference?

In the context of Six Sigma, both the project sponsor and the deployment champion play crucial roles in driving the success of Six Sigma initiatives within an organization. While their objectives may align to some extent, there are key differences in their responsibilities and focus areas. Here’s a breakdown of the roles:

Project Sponsor:

1. The project sponsor is typically a high-level executive who provides overall leadership and support for the Six Sigma project. They are responsible for championing the project at the strategic level.
2. The sponsor ensures that the project receives the necessary resources, including budget, manpower, and time, to achieve its goals.
3. They ensure that the project aligns with the organization’s strategic objectives and goals. The project sponsor helps connect the project to broader organizational priorities.
4. The sponsor identifies and manages stakeholders, including senior management, who have an interest in or may be affected by the project outcomes.
5. The sponsor monitors the progress of the project, reviews the results, and provides guidance and support to the project team. They may also remove obstacles that hinder project success.

Deployment Champion:

1. The deployment champion is responsible for driving Six Sigma deployment and continuous improvement efforts across the organization. They serve as the primary point of contact for Six Sigma implementation.
2. They act as a change agent by promoting the Six Sigma methodology, creating awareness, and facilitating cultural and organizational changes necessary for successful deployment.
3. The deployment champion provides training, guidance, and mentoring to the project teams, Green Belts, and Black Belts involved in Six Sigma projects.
4. They track and monitor the progress of various Six Sigma projects within the organization, ensuring that they are aligned with objectives and achieving the desired results.
5. The champion identifies and shares best practices, tools, and methodologies across projects and teams, promoting consistency and standardization in Six Sigma implementation.

Project Sponsor vs. Deployment Champion: When would you use a Project Sponsor vs. Deployment Champion?

In some cases, an organization may choose to have both a project sponsor and a deployment champion for different levels of engagement. The sponsor may provide project-specific support while the champion focuses on broader deployment and implementation efforts. Ultimately, the decision depends on the scale, scope, and objectives of the Six Sigma initiatives within the organization. Discussed below are some specific scenarios of when you would use a sponsor vs. a champion.

Choosing Between Using a Project Sponsor vs. Deployment Champion: Real World Scenarios

The decision to utilize a Six Sigma project sponsor or deployment champion depends on the specific needs and goals of the organization. Here are some considerations for when to use each role:

Project Sponsor:

1. A project sponsor is typically assigned to a specific Six Sigma project to provide leadership, support, and resources for its successful execution. 
2. A project sponsor becomes crucial when there is a need to ensure that the project aligns with the organization’s strategic objectives and goals. 
3. If the project requires significant resources, such as budget, manpower, or time, a project sponsor can facilitate the allocation of those resources and ensure that the project receives the necessary support.

Deployment Champion:

1. A deployment champion is more suitable when the organization aims to implement Six Sigma methodology and principles across various departments, functions, or business units. 
2. If the organization needs to undergo a significant cultural transformation to embrace the principles of Six Sigma and embed them into daily operations, a deployment champion can act as a change agent, promoting and facilitating the necessary shifts in mindset, behavior, and practices.
3. When there is a need to provide training, guidance, and mentoring to multiple project teams including the selection and training of Six Sigma resources (Green Belts, Black Belts, and Master Black Belts) a deployment champion can take on this responsibility, ensuring consistency and standardization in Six Sigma implementation.
4. If the organization wants to monitor the progress and performance of various Six Sigma projects, share best practices, and promote collaboration and learning across projects and teams, a deployment champion can fulfill these roles effectively.

Summary of the difference between a Project Sponsor vs. Deployment Champion

In summary, the main differences between a Six Sigma project sponsor and a deployment champion can be summarized as follows:

Project Sponsor:

• Provides leadership and support for a specific Six Sigma project.
• Ensures strategic alignment of the project with the organization’s goals.
• Allocates necessary resources, such as budget and manpower, to the project.
• Monitors project progress, reviews results, and removes obstacles.
• Focuses on individual projects and their successful execution.

Deployment Champion:

• Drives Six Sigma deployment and continuous improvement efforts organization-wide.
• Acts as a change agent, promoting cultural and organizational change.
• Provides training, guidance, and mentoring to project teams and practitioners.
• Tracks and monitors the progress of multiple Six Sigma projects.
• Shares best practices and promotes consistency across projects and teams.
• Takes a broader organizational perspective and focuses on long-term success and sustainability.