Page 339 - Six Sigma Demystified

Part 3 S i x S i g m a To o l S 319

Interpretation

Use the upper and lower predicted limits of duration as best- and worst-case
estimates of the project or process cycle time.

Prioritization Matrix

A prioritization matrix is a special type of matrix diagram designed especially to
prioritize or rank options and build consensus.

When to Use

Define Stage

• To select projects aligned with company goals and objectives
• To understand how customer requirements are aligned with process
metrics

Improve Stage
• To verify that project solutions are aligned with customer needs

Methodology

There are two methods that you can use to make a prioritization matrix: the full
analytical method and the quicker consensus-criteria method. The full analytical
method gives you a quantitative method for deciding which criteria are the most
important to your project and which options best fulfill the given criteria. It is
especially useful when you are unsure which criteria are the most important.

The consensus-criteria method is somewhat simpler than the full analytical
method in that the team simply decides the importance of each criterion and
then ranks the options according to their ability to meet each criterion.

Full Analytical Method
The first step in any prioritization matrix is to compile a list of your options.
Then compile a list of all the criteria for evaluating the options. Each criterion
should be stated as a goal: short period of time, low cost, ease of use, employee
satisfaction, etc.
The first matrix will compare each criterion with every other criterion. The
criteria will be listed across the horizontal top of the matrix as well as down the
left side of the matrix. Evaluate each criterion in relation to each other criterion,