How to successfully manage a government as it should be done.

Implementing the Lean Six Sigma project management approach achieves this.

Even as bad governance is sadly laden with leakages(wastes) with inconsistent performances of public systems(Process Variation), with slight alterations in wording and processes, Lean Six Sigma principles - a project management approach can be can still be applied correctly and successfully to improve the quality and output of systems of government and ultimately rekindling hope and trust from the side of a joyous populace.

One word that has keeps coming to me as I consider the world impact of COVID-19 is '’Transformation’’. This notion of transformation swing in two far extremes. On one side, the pandemic have devastated many dreams, businesses have become more vulnerable to collapsing, the world’s top economics are edging towards depression and poor countries even sink deeper in the swamp of indebtedness and confusion.

However on the other hand, there seem to be a silver lining in the dark cloud. More than ever, we are leveraging technology to let us keep innovating and connecting. According to a New York Times article, "It may be that the virus is forcing us to use the internet as it was always meant to be used — to connect with one another, share information and resources, and come up with collective solutions to urgent problems."

I do not want to sound like a broken record rumbling about the COVID-19 and the disturbing baggage that come with it but, a popular notion that says that COVID-19 have exposed the dysfunctional state of the nation must be debunked, when in fact, the most basic function of the Nigerian government which is to provide welfare and secure the populace have been almost non-existential.

Now, come closer.

And pay attention here...

A solution to this dysfunctional system in the name of the government(put Nigeria into context) abounds in a Project Management Approach- Lean Six Sigma.

This article focuses on the how Lean Six Sigma Process can act as the vehicle to support and drive the changes needed in improving the thinking, process and performance of government, and indeed provide greater value for the greater number of people.

While I’m not yet an expert in Project Management and governance in Nigeria, I regularly have robust interactions with top professionals in each of these circles. I have also had a stint working in an environment that has the Lean Six sigma PM methodology ingrained in its culture and personally, I have devoted an ample time with related PM and government policy implementation resources over the past months. So don't fret, my contribution would be worth your while.

To apply the Lean Six Sigma approach successfully, you need to recognize the need for different thinking. To paraphrase Albert Einstein:

‘The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.'

So, if you want to transform and change the outcomes you have to change your systems, and to do that, you have to change your thinking.

I am sure you are aware of the half-full, half-empty glass analogy applied to whether someone looks on the positive or negative side. A Lean practitioner might as well respond by saying ‘it’s the wrong sized glass’.

Either way, you first need to understand the customer and their perception of value. Lean thinking also means looking for ways of smoothing and levelling the way the work flows through the process.

Make sense?

Traditionally, Lean focuses on the elimination of production process wastes and Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimizing variability in processes. Together, Lean aims to achieve continuous flow by tightening the linkages between process steps while Six Sigma focuses on reducing process variation (in all its forms) for the process steps thereby enabling a tightening of those linkages.

Even as bad governance is sadly laden with leakages(wastes) with inconsistent performances of public systems(Process Variation), with slight alterations in wording and processes, Lean Six Sigma principles can still be applied correctly and successfully to improve the quality and output of systems of government and ultimately rekindling hope and trust from the side of a joyous populace.

Already Lean Six Sigma has provision to improve existing processes such as governance. DMAIC [Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control] provides the framework to improve existing processes. The action you take in improving this process needs to be undertaken in a systematic way.

The DMAIC cycle isn’t necessarily linear. You could well find yourself moving back and forth, especially to the Measure and Define phases, as you find more information or suspect a particular root cause but need more evidence.

Define (Can you really help?)

Before you can solve any problem, you need to clearly define it, which isn’t always as straightforward as it might sound. In fact, there are many ways of identifying a problem, but not all ways of doing so will point toward a solution. To recognise that the economy is in bad shape, for example, is one form of problem identification. Stating the problem in such general terms does not suggest a direction for resolving the issue. 'Wailer' would be a suitable nomenclature for whosoever identify problems this way. What is achieved in this phase is a finer definition of the situation, one that will suggest a productive way of dealing with the problem.

Measure ( what/where is your goal post?)

Now, this phase lays a research foundation that will serve to begin outlining the direction for change. The Measure phase helps you understand things more clearly and, where necessary, you can update the problem statement. To understand the current situation, you need to know what the process looks like and how it’s performing. You also need to understand what’s meant to happen, and why. You also need to recognise how your process links to the people you intend to serve.

Naturally, being aware of current performance is essential but it will also be helpful to know what’s happened in the past.

Importantly, focus on the goal post by measuring what’s important to the people you intend to serve and remember to measure what they see. Gathering this information helps focus your improvement efforts and prevents you from going off in the wrong direction.

Analyse (Be weary about jumping into conclusions)

In the Measure phase you discovered what’s really happening in your process. Now, in the Analyse phase, you need to identify why it’s happening, and determine the root cause so so you must verify and validate your ideas about possible suspects.

Finding root causes can be triggered through a thorough assessment of the process and through data analysis. Yes, data analysis! There, the distinct cries of the people(data) is heard and understood.

Improve

The light bulb in your head would now need to glow up even brighter as You need to come up with your possible solutions, select the most appropriate and make sure that they’ll work. This phase of DMAIC is where most people want to start- wake up to an epiphany and acting without doing due diligence.

Now you’ve identified the root cause of the problem, you can begin to generate innovative ideas to help solve it. Your ideas will need to be reviewed and prioritised and perhaps even tested on a small scale before selecting the most appropriate The chosen solution may need to be developed in more detail, but will almost certainly need to be properly piloted by trusted crew members.

Remember how our definition of a certain Part of Speech in English Language doesn’t seem complete without adding 'ACTION' to it. Same goes for all that you plan to do. A wise man once said: a multitude of people occupy their minds with BIG dreams but only a few actually put in the work.

As you have guessed, all I'm saying is, after all your hard work in devising a strategy and putting together teams of qualified people who fully buy into the Change and the daunting processes that comes with it, you need to IMPLEMENT the solution in a way that ensures that you make the impact you expected and maintain it! On the surface, this whole process looks like it is no rocket science, up until you begin to do the DO.

Control( Bridle the horse)

Nobody loves being caught off guard especially when the turn of events goes down south. So, a control plan is vital. Apart from keeping contingencies in check, other focuses of this stage is to make sure that the action item created in the improve phase is well-implemented and maintained. In this context, policy tools such as Legislation, regulation, guidelines, standards and procedures etcetera would solidify suffice as a control system. Ofcourse, having misguided set of people can greatly jeopardise all the effort that would have resulted in to producing change that would be so iconic.

Therefore always remember: Only the best can deliver the best.

I would be back soon. Stay Safe