Six Sigma Implementation And The Crystal Methodology:
Crystal Methodology is based on the art of identifying and using quality signs. A sign is a point on a surface that can be perceived as a measurable quantitative quality indicator. The beauty of using indicators is that it allows you to focus on quality as a part of your design. You are able to quantify aspects of the design before the process even begins. This will allow you to create a design plan with a clear vision of the end product, rather than having to guess at how it will look.
Crystal methodology first bounded by Cockburn in 1998 (Cockburn, R. et al., 1998). In simple crystal, projects are split into small manageable chunks based on their importance and their size (Ramsin and Paige, 2021). Crystal recommends selecting the appropriate style of methodology for a given project depending on its size and level of complexity (Lambert, 2021). Additionally, it provides guidelines for designing small (and large) projects (Hain, 2021). In both large and small projects, Crystal Meth continues to emphasize the principle of division of labor and the use of specialized experts. It is also advisable to select an appropriate technology for each major aspect of the design, though every project is unique in terms of its technological issues.
Crystal Methodology
Crystal’s approach toward defining project requirements and working procedures is built on the principals of Agile and waterfall development. These two design approaches have been used successfully for developing software products, but developers and administrators have found the application more practical when applied to software projects (Ableton, 2021). Because Agile and waterfall styles require a significant period of upfront time spent defining requirements, managers are sometimes reluctant to invest the necessary resources in training new staff or hiring additional experts. Furthermore, because these styles require that every phase of the project be completed in a specific order and that managers rely heavily on the ability of their team to execute the project with a high degree of competence, the implementation of Crystal Methodology requires a relatively low cost upfront investment.
The core strength of this methodology is its focus on establishing the identification, assessment, prioritization, and correction of problems by the teams themselves. Furthermore, it emphasizes the principle of ownership wherein the individuals involved in the project are recognized, empowered, and responsible for its outcome. Finally, it maintains that all the work is done by teams rather than individuals. With its focus on groups rather than individuals, it helps in dealing with situations involving sudden changes in organizational culture, work flow, and priorities. Finally, it also allows the development of trust and confidence between managers and their teams which are essential to the success of projects.
Six Sigma Implementation And The Crystal Methodology
On the other hand, Crystal’s reliance on waterfall style management may hinder its ability to adapt to changing market conditions. While Agile methods to promote collaborative decision making and have a flexible approach to scheduling, the Crystal Methodology team relies too much on time constraints, project costs, and internal team rotas. Furthermore, this methodology is unable to handle large projects in which its reliance on rigid project calendars and inflexible project teams may cause problems.
However, the Crystal Methodology team provides solutions to these problems by focusing on iterative methods. These methods focus on the principle that most problems are solved at the individual or team level. Moreover, these methods help to prevent problems like the ones highlighted above by making the process more transparent, enabling the stakeholders to get involved, giving clear responsibilities and expectations, and facilitating better quality outcomes.