Bonnie Stone

Industrial Engineer, a.i. solutions, Inc., Merritt Island, FL, USA

Ms. Bonnie Stone is a process improvement professional and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB) for a.i. solutions, Inc. Currently Bonnie is leading process improvement projects and LSS training for NASA’s Launch Services Program, which prepares and launches uncrewed exploration and robotic missions to space. Ms. Stone is an active contributor in the professional community, via groups such as the Federal Improvement Team and the Project Management Institute. She is a central figure in the Lean Six Sigma community, having served as Conference Chair and Co-chair for the American Quality Institute (AQI) Lean Six Sigma World Conference on multiple occasions. In addition, she has authored multiple papers and presentations on leading edge topics in process improvement and its practical application. She is an engaging speaker and a naturally gifted educator.Ms. Stone received dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Medical Technology from University of Memphis. She also holds two advanced degrees: Master of Science in Industrial Optimization from Embry-Riddle University and an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology. She holds both MBB and PMP certifications.

Managing Complex Change is NOT Easy

Almost every successful Lean Six Sigma Project culminates with some amount of change. Depending on the project it could be minor or major changes to a variety of things such as processes, suppliers, customers, employees, material goods and so on. More than 30 years after the Lippitt-Knoster Change Model was first developed by Mary Lippitt later updated by Timothy Knoster, this simple formula rings true for guiding modern-day projects. According to the Lippitt-Knoster Model there are six elements required for effective change: vision, consensus, skills, incentives, resources, and an action plan. If any one of these elements are missing, the change effort will fail, usually with negative outcomes. Applying this model when implementing Lean Six Sigma solutions will help to produce the desired change. If you have all six, you will likely end up with change. And, if you leave one of the components out, you will likely end up with something different.If you want your teams to be successful with implementing solutions that stick, then understanding the elements behind successful change is important. These 6 elements can serve as a helpful guide when developing Lean Six Sigma solution implementation plans or diagnosing when change is not happening as expected.