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Lean Communications:
Process Improvement in PR and Corporate
Communications Using Lean Six Sigma



                                          Reid Walker
                                          November 2012




                                  1/23
Overview



PR and corporate communications programs are critical to the success of            Some believe it’s all about
your business. However, there is frequently a lack of clarity around the
implementation, measurement, and success of many communications                    having a relationship with
programs. Some believe it’s all about having a relationship with a few
reporters or sending out the occasional well-written press release, but with the   a few reporters or sending
fragmentation of the media, everyone is now a consumer and producer of
                                                                                   out the occasional well-
“media.”
Is there a way to create innovative, clutter-busting programs with focused and     written press release, but
quantifiable business results without wasting time and money?
This paper examines the application of Lean Six Sigma in the development and
                                                                                   with the fragmentation of
improvement of communication programs by showing that the processes                the media, everyone is now
involved result in data that can be measured and analyzed to deliver more
insightful, targeted efforts with more impactful outcomes. Innovative companies    a consumer and producer
can benefit from growth, adaptability and success while enhancing their brands
and reputations with the faster and better results that emerge from improved       of “media.”
communications programs.




                                                                   2/23
PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge



Stakeholder communications plays a critical role in business strategy especially     By using quantifiable
when it comes to enhancing brands, as well as building and securing reputations
in a constantly changing business environment. By using quantifiable data to         data to improve the
improve the processes involved in communications, businesses can benefit from a
targeted approach to achieving reputational goals.                                   processes involved in
Social media is clearly one of the most important factors in building reputations,   communications,
backed by a global population of more than 1.97 billion Internet users with
over 266 million located in North America alone. In 2010, 600 million of these       businesses can benefit
global Internet users were registered on media platforms such as Facebook while
175 million were on Twitter. With such a critical mass of attentive focus, no        from a targeted approach
business can afford to ignore their social media strategy. Unfortunately media
                                                                                     to achieving reputational
fragmentation often results in wasted efforts because businesses end up with
uncoordinated and ineffective strategies by trying to reach a wider audience         goals.
through new channels, without knowing whether their efforts are delivering the
needed results or not.
Having a corporate Instagram account and posting pictures online is pointless if
a business cannot determine whether it contributes to their desired reputational
goals or whether their target audience is camped out on LinkedIn instead.




                                                                    3/23
PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge



With the success recorded by practices such as Lean Six Sigma in process improvement         Having a corporate
and the high rate of efficiency and quality delivered as a result, it was only a matter of
time before considerations were made concerning the application of Lean Six Sigma            Instagram account and
(LSS) in fields such as PR and corporate communications for process development and
improvement. However, making this applicable and useable comes with a number of              posting pictures online is
challenges. To better understand the core of the “Lean” aspect in LSS, you must
                                                                                             pointless if a business
know its sole focus: to arrive at efficiency by eliminating waste from a process,
where waste refers to aspects that limit process speed and efficiency. According to          cannot determine whether
Taiichi Ohno of the famous Toyota Production System (TPS), the forerunner to
Lean, 7 kinds of Muda, or waste, exist:                                                      it contributes to their
•	 Overproduction of products not demanded by customers
•	 Inventories awaiting further processing or consumption
                                                                                             desired reputational
•	 Unnecessary over-processing                                                               goals...
•	 Unnecessary motion of employees
•	 Unnecessary transport and handling of goods
•	 Waiting for people, processes or functions
These definitions of waste serve the manufacturing world but will not work for service
processes such as communication.




                                                                           4/23
PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge



“Sigma” in LSS refers to a statistical deviation from perfection which may result     We have to examine and
from variations deviating from standards of quality. The problem is that unlike
manufacturing where quality standards are usually exact measurements, quality in      redefine LSS in the context
service processes is based on individual or collective experiences of people not a
measurement against certain specifications as it is in manufacturing. As such these   of communications
challenges arise:
                                                                                      programs and processes.
•	 Services processes are focused on people not machines, so standardization is
	 not the ultimate goal.
•	 The fact that we cannot standardize processes means that quality also cannot
	 be standardized.
•	 Visibility of Work in Process (WIP) is often difficult; however the negative
	 connotations are there all the same.
•	 The flow in such processes is typically of information not products. Information
	 may be written or oral and visibility of such information is limited unlike
	 manufacturing where product flow is visible and can be standardized.
Other differences exist between service and manufacturing processes however
the important factor is that these differences create a challenge in applying
Lean Six Sigma to service processes. These problems notwithstanding,
significant opportunities do exist. In examining several solutions that are
designed for service processes using LSS methodology, the answer lies in redefining
LSS concepts and applications in the context of communications programs and
processes.




                                                                     5/23
Lean Communications:
                                                    Improving Quality and Efficiency in the Communications Process


Redefining LSS concepts in the service context has been accomplished in finance,                                                7 Muda (Waste) of
healthcare and other sectors. Key changes have been recommended which have
some bearing in fields such as corporate communications. In terms of redefining                                                 Corporate Communications
the concepts, Bicheno and Holweg1 came up with broad-based recommendations                                                      1. Delay
for redefining the original 7 Muda for service-based processes. We have adapted
these to serve the needs of corporate communications:                                                                           2. Duplication
•  	Delay on the part of customers in a communication process where they wait for                                               3. Unnecessary movement
	 information or a response. The customer’s time may seem free to the provider, but
	 when the quest for information or response is taken elsewhere the pain begins.                                                4. Unclear communication
•  	Duplication by having to re-enter data, repeat details on forms, copy information
                                                                                                                                5. Lost opportunity
	 across, or answer the same queries from several sources.
•	 Unnecessary movement with a lack of one-stop solutions to customer                                                           6. Errors in service transaction
	 requirements, creating the need to seek answers from multiple sources.
•  Unclear communication and the waste of seeking clarification, confusion over
	 product or service use, wasting time finding a location that may result in misuse or
	duplication.
•  	A lost opportunity to retain or win customers may involve a failure to establish
	 rapport, ignoring customers, unfriendliness, and rudeness.
•  	Errors in the service transaction or product defects in the service.


1	
  Bicheno, J. and Holweg, M. (2009) “The Lean Toolbox: The Essential Guide to Lean Transformation”,. 4th edition, Buckingham:
	 PICSIE Books




                                                                                                        6/23
Lean Communications:
                                                   Improving Quality and Efficiency in the Communications Process


This adaptation provides a good entry point for approaching the issue of defining                                Critical to Quality refers to
process improvement within a company’s communication programs from the
Lean Six Sigma perspective. In addition, researchers such as Schleusener have                                    the core elements of the
also proposed that service-oriented businesses should adopt three principles of
statistical thinking in order to apply Sigma methodology to their efforts:                                       service that are necessary
•  	All work is a process.
                                                                                                                 to meet or exceed
•  	All processes have variability.
•  	All processes create data that explains variability.2                                                        customer expectations.
This approach means that if we can determine processes that provide data we can
measure for variations and deviations from means associated with quality. In terms
of defining quality based on customer expectations which are subjective, we can use
the principle of conformance to customer Critical to Quality (CTQ) requirements
to determine the quality of processes. Critical to Quality refers to the core elements
of the service that are necessary to meet or exceed customer expectations. These
should be clearly defined and agreed to by all parties. A point based system may be
used to collect customer responses and grade them against a scale of expectations
in order to provide some standardization. Customers from the communications
strategy perspective refers to analysts, bloggers, media, and regulators as
important target audiences when it comes to building corporate reputations.
Once collective responses have been collated they may be standardized to provide
data for comparison of processes against CTQ objectives.


 Smith, Kennedy. “Six Sigma for the Service Sector.” QualityDigest. Kennedy Smith, May 2012.Web. 31 Oct. 2012.
2	

	<http://www.qualitydigest.com/may03/articles/01_article.shtml>




                                                                                                     7/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



We agree with Bicheno and Holweg as well as Schleusener that waste can be              To better align core LSS
redefined for service processes and all work consists of processes which create
data that explains variability. To better align core LSS principles to improve a       principles to improve a
company’s communications programs we recommend adopting a specific
Lean Six Sigma approach called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve,               company’s communications
and Control) where the focus is on streamlining programs and obtaining
                                                                                       programs we recommend
data in order to analyze, develop, refine, and improve processes for better results
that create faster and more focused reputational impact.                               adopting a specific Lean
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications
1. Define
                                                                                       Six Sigma approach called
Reputation is a critical factor to a company’s success; most efforts of the            DMAIC...
communications process are aimed at building a reputation for a company
and its products while deriving attendant benefits such as increased sales and
improved financial performance.
However, corporate communications is not a single monolithic process; it consists
of several other processes and sub processes. Public relations is an aspect of
communications and has its own sub processes which need to be targeted for
improvement. Following the Pareto principle, if we can target 20% of the constituent
processes that provide the opportunity for improvement, the remaining 80% may
benefit from positive results and the entire communications effort improves in
terms of quality and effectiveness. Some companies have defined communication
strategies that require process improvement; other companies don’t have such
requirements in place and need to develop processes as part of a new effective
strategy. All these needs are addressed in the Define phase.



                                                                      8/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



The relevant processes to be developed or improved should be determined in                                  Reputational CTQs are
this first phase by defining the necessary reputational CTQs. These reputational
CTQs are key factors that need to be met or improved based on the stated                                    aspects that need to be
requirements of targeted stakeholders. Requirements can be derived by examining
both the internal and external facets of the company’s strategy, practices, and                             met or improved based on
market. Internal developments are responsible for external consequences and a
                                                                                                            the stated requirements of
synergy between both efforts is required for an effective strategy.
Focus on the target audiences of the communication sub process involved and                                 targeted stakeholders.
eliciting information from them should help determine the Voice of the
Customer in LSS parlance, which means what the target audiences expect or
values and their requirements for satisfaction. Requirements can be determined
through surveys, interviews, or the use of tools such as a SWOT Matrix which
can help provide some parameters for reputational CTQs and processes that need
improvement (see Table 1).


 SWOT FACTOR                      CLASSIFICATION             DESCRIPTION
 Strengths                         Internal                  Aspects of the business and its strategy that count towards an improved reputation.
 Weaknesses                        Internal                  Aspects of the business and its strategy that place its reputation at a disadvantage when
                                                             compared to others.
 Opportunities                     External                  Areas of growth through which a company can enhance its reputation in its niche and
                                                             marketplace.
 Threats                           External                  Factors which are a threat to reputation and will have to be dealt with.
Table 1: Example SWOT Matrix framework for communications.




                                                                              9/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



Through SWOT Analysis, a company may discover that one of its reputational                    ...the process...may have to
CTQs is “Great Customer Support.” Following this discovery, the process of
customer support may have to be broken down in order to determine its quality                 be broken down in order
drivers and performance requirements from the customer perspective using tools
such as CTQ Trees (see Diagram 1):                                                            to determine its quality
                                                                                              drivers and performance
Need 		                            Quality Driver 	   Performance Requirement                 requirements...
			                                                   96% customers satisfied
		             Waiting Time
			                                                   Calls responded to within 20 seconds
Great Customer
Support		                                             90% say support response is friendly	
		             Friendliness
			                                                   Maintain responses typical of friendly engagement

			                                                   Follow up email/call in 24 hours
		 Follow Up
			                                                   Ask to be of further help

Diagram1: CTQ Tree for “Great Customer Support.”




                                                                 10/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



If the process was a weakness, process maps would also have to be developed          A new company may have
in order to provide visualization and determine areas where problems are located,
how they affect performance requirements, and how to reduce or eliminate such        customer support as part
problems. In some cases processes may not even exist and will have to be developed
to meet stakeholder expectations. A new company may have customer support            of its service offering even
as part of its service offering even though it may exist without being part of
                                                                                     though it may exist
a defined communications strategy. The same company might lack a means of
distributing communication to stakeholders about new products and services,          without being part of a
meaning that this process will have to be developed from scratch and a
corresponding communications strategy structured to identify other areas where       defined communications
they may be lacking completely or require improvement.
                                                                                     strategy.
2. Measure
Having established process maps and CTQs in the Define phase, at this stage
it is time to measure the attributes of target audiences. The extent to which
established processes effectively support the reputation of the company and its
brand among audiences needs to be ascertained.
Stakeholders or target audiences are typically classified into 2 categories:
a. Primary Stakeholders:
	 People who are the direct targets of the communication programs of a company.
	 This depends on what the company in question is offering but this audience
	 may consist of groups such as: customers, C-level executives, consultants,
	 decision makers, members of the government, industry analysts, bloggers etc.




                                                                    11/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



b. Secondary Stakeholders:                                                             Influence in communication
	 Intermediaries who are indirectly targeted in communication efforts such as:
	 partners, social sites, developers, and members of the media among others.           means anyone that has a
It should be noted that in regular stakeholder analysis, a third category known
as Key Stakeholders or Influencers exist. These are either primary or secondary
                                                                                       say in how people perceive
stakeholders with an influence over others in their organizations or groups.           a service or product and
However in communications, members of primary and secondary stakeholder
groups are all considered key stakeholders because reputations are based on opinions   their responses to
formed by a collective group of individuals who are either direct or indirect
targets of your communications strategy. Everyone in either category 1 or 2 is
                                                                                       communication efforts have
considered an influencer with varying degrees of importance.                           to be measured.
Consider a company that offers payment processing and had flaws in its gateway
made public by a tech blogger having no direct communication channel to
inform the company of its problems. Either their communications strategy had
no stakeholder analysis that identified the need to target such users or a strat-
egy did not exist in the first place. The story could easily damage that business.
Influence in communication means anyone that has a say in how people perceive
a service or product and their responses to communication efforts have to be
measured.
New companies need this analysis in order to know how to plan and direct their
communications programs. Writing innovative press releases without knowing who
these releases are supposed to target in the first place is a wasteful exercise.
Through the Measure phase, a business can appropriately classify stakeholders
so targeted communications can lead to a higher reputational impact.



                                                                     12/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



 Using tools such as Mendelow’s Matrix stakeholders can be mapped and classified
 to determine the appropriate communication efforts required to target specific
 audiences based on the Power/Interest approach as elaborated by Mitchell and




                                                                                                                                  C




                                                                                                                                         POWER
 Agle3.


     SECTION

     A
                       POWER/INTEREST
                       WEIGHT
                       Low Interest
                       + Low Power
                                                              DESCRIPTION

                                                              Require minimal effort in
                                                              communication programs but should
                                                              be monitored
                                                                                                                              INTEREST
                                                                                                                                                 D
     B                 Low Power                              Should be kept informed                                                            INTEREST
                       + High Interest




                                                                                                                                  A
     C                 High Power                             Ensure enough information is




                                                                                                                                                 B
                       + Low Interest                         provided in order to keep them
                                                              sufficiently satisfied about the
                                                              company’s brand and reputation.




                                                                                                                                         POWER
     D                 High Power                             These are key players who should be
                       + High Interest                        encouraged and influenced regularly
                                                              as part of communication strategy.

3	
  Mitchell, R. K., B. R. Agle, and D.J. Wood. (1997). “Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining
	 the Principle of Who and What really Counts.” in: Academy of Management Review 22(4): 853 - 888.




                                                                                                          13/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



For each group of target audiences, a strategy to compare the company’s             For each group of target
reputational objectives against the actual situation which currently exists must
be developed. Teams working on the strategy use metrics to determine when           audiences, a strategy to
improvement has occurred after refining a process. Using the same example of
“Great Customer Service” in the Define phase above, the process could said          compare the company’s
to have failed or be inefficient if calls are not answered within 20 seconds or a
                                                                                    reputational objectives
percentage of surveyed customers, e.g. up to 20%, consider support staff
unfriendly. Improvement occurs when standards have been attained. When a new        against the actual situation
company has no such process in the first place, it has to be implemented by
comparing standards that apply in the most efficient businesses in its sector,      which currently exists must
maintaining and improving on such standards.
                                                                                    be developed.
Using an alternate example, online marketing as a communications process could
be said to be ineffective if the process does not correspond to “X” amount of
sales, does not lead to a percentage increase in inquiries about a particular
product, or the value of the number of purchases on the company’s website is
different from the average recorded in a year. Metrics ultimately help
ascertain process improvement. Tools such as CTQ Trees can help determine
performance requirements for which successive efforts at process development or
improvement can be measured. Performance capability gap analysis can help
determine the difference between the process status quo, those of competitors,
the best in the industry, and other metrics that should help determine what
level the process or overall communications strategy ought to be at.




                                                                   14/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



3. Analyze                                                                            5 Whys Example
The team should now understand their current position and the difference
between what they desire and the reality of their position in the market. The         1. Why is this message not working?
challenges impacting the attainment of the performance level they need to             	 a.	Because we can’t be sure we are 		
reach can be analyzed for root causes. Value-stream maps can be used to target        		 reaching our target audience.
areas of improvement such as the appropriate reputational messages to
communicate to target key audiences or the lack of relevant data to perform certain   2. Why can’t we be sure of this?
internal tasks that help with effective communications. Value stream mapping          	 a. Because our distribution system is 	
is a technique used to analyze the flow of systems and information in order to        		 hard to track and measure.
better understand it.
                                                                                      3. Why is that?
Other tools and methods of analysis such as the 5 Whys can also be used in this       	 a. Because our target audience is so 	
stage of analysis. For example if reputational messages are being developed, the      		large.
5 Whys application could be used to determine possible reasons why a message
does not have the desired effect on target audiences. It can also be used in          4. Why does it need to be so large?
developing entirely new messages as part of its strategy, where questions are         	 a. Because we have a great product 	
asked about reasons the message strategy may not have the desired effect upon         		 that could appeal to a lot of
implementation. The 5 Whys help unlock core issues or problem, for example:           		 different audiences and we are
1. Why is this message not working?                                                   		 not sure who we will reach.
	 a. Because we can’t be sure we are reaching our target audience.
                                                                                      5.	Why can it not be segmented and 		
2. Why can’t we be sure of this?
                                                                                      	measured?
	 a. Because our distribution system is hard to track and measure.




                                                                     15/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



3. Why is that?                                                                      Care must be taken to en-
	 a. Because our target audience is so large.
4. Why does it need to be so large?                                                  sure that the interviews
	 a. Because we have a great product that could appeal to a lot of different
		 audiences and we are not sure who we will reach.
                                                                                     result in honest responses
5. Why can it not be segmented and measured?                                         not responses that are giv-
The analysis stage involves collaboration by the cross functional teams involved.
In the case of reputation, new messages may need to be developed which               en in order to benefit from
incorporate the priorities that the team decides the company needs to address
                                                                                     perceived rewards.
as part of its communication strategy, and testing may need to be used on
target audiences. For proposed efforts to remain within budgeting requirements
cost accounting tools may also be required.
Interviews and other means of opinion measurement which take stakeholder
responses into account can be compared against desired goals of the reputational
messages they might have been subject to. Care must be taken to ensure that
the interviews result in honest responses not responses that are given in order to
benefit from perceived rewards. Impact can also be determined by finding out
focus group opinions through independent research and examining sources of
public user opinion, e.g., forums, blogs, social network comments, and other
media sources.




                                                                    16/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



4. Improve                                                                           Process maps resulting
At this stage data and information should have emerged from previous phases
which will highlight areas of communication tactics and messages which need new      from team analysis can help
processes or which can be improved, such as the reputational message example
described above. Some of the information which may have emerged from earlier         in making comparisons
phases can include:
•  List of reputational CTQs ordered by rank.
                                                                                     between old processes and
•	 Process maps showing deficient or non-existent communication processes, areas     new processes based on
	 that fail, and why they fail.
•  Measures that identify what elements of independent communication processes       recommendations in the
	 need improvement to satisfy reputational CTQ requirements. Measures also
	 identify processes that need to be developed to achieve objectives.
                                                                                     “Analyze” phase.
•  Strategies that address new requirements through varied methods.
Process maps resulting from team analysis can help in making comparisons between
old processes and new processes based on recommendations in the “Analyze”
phase. Showing clear causes of defects or failures in the old way of doing things
is critical as well as how the new processes aim to solve the underlying problems.
In the case where entirely new processes are being developed with no baseline
to compare them to, analysis with the existing processes of a competitor may be
required before development.




                                                                    17/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



Implementation should be in pilot phases to compare the performances                   Areas of future improvement
of the newly implemented processes and determine if indeed a solution has been
found that improves on the existing process. Pilot phases should be compared           need to be determined and
to determine which provides the most significant degree of effectiveness,
determined by the number of reputational CTQs they help improve with                   worked on as part of a
the least amount of risk. Benchmarking tools are essential in this stage
to determine the actual rate of process improvement versus the status quo.
                                                                                       continuous process known
Launch timelines for new process implementation are also a critical aspect             as Communications
of this phase and should result in a detailed plan which can be tested in real
world situations. Internal and external aspects of the strategy will also need to be   Process Improvement
tweaked to improve the communications program.
5. Control
                                                                                       (CPI).
Benefits gained should be documented and maintained in order to not lose
ground on areas of improvements. Areas for future improvement need to be
determined and continuously incorporated as part of Communications Process
Improvement (CPI). One key is reputational behavior observed and feedback
gained from external sources measured through means such as surveys, opinion
gathering, social media monitoring, and other analytical methods.
In areas where positive benefits have been gained from new or improved
processes, teams must assess such processes and determine a reputational plan of
action should circumstances change.




                                                                     18/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



This means if the old process was a Plan A and the new process a Plan B, a                                                    Continuous improvement
contingency Plan C or even an additional Plan D should be in place to deal with
potential new problems that may arise impacting the effectiveness of the new                                                  means assessing
process.
Continuous improvement means assessing reputational CTQs to determine if
                                                                                                                              reputational CTQs for
there is any change in requirements. The “Great Customer Support” trend may                                                   desired audiences to
have shifted in a specific sector and using old performance requirements alone
may be ineffective. In an age where social media is growing exponentially,                                                    determine if there is a
Mashable noted that 62% of customers have already used social media for cus-
tomer service issues while 56% of the major brands don’t respond to complaint                                                 change in requirements.
comments on their Facebook page and 71% ignore customer complaints on
Twitter4. But that statistic will continue to evolve quickly. Already a large
number of companies are shifting towards social media for customer service
in addition to regular channels. If this becomes a performance requirement
for your sector from the stakeholder perspective, getting in late will be a
disadvantage. People want their problems attended to faster and when
competitors are doing so via social media, focusing on email and telephone
channels alone may be a company’s path to extinction. After all, more people
these days spend their time on social networks, with 66% of online adults using
social networking websites5. Scenarios such as this make continuous improvement
an integral requirement of communications programs.
4	
  Rollason, Harry. “While Social Media Makes Better Customer Service.” Mashable. Mashable, 09 Sept. 2012. Web. 31 Oct.
	 2012. <http://mashable.com/2012/09/29/social-media-better-customer-service/>.
5	
  Brenner, Joanna. “Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.” Pew Internet: Social Networking (full Detail).
	 Pew Internet, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/March/Pew-Internet-
	Social-Networking-full-detail.aspx>.




                                                                                                        19/23
Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications



There should be frequent assessment of existing processes which may work               Excellence and
optimally in their current configuration but may require improvement if audi-
ence requirements and opinions change. Measuring changes and determining               effectiveness in
how to sustain gains and improve the communications strategy may involve the
following:                                                                             communications can be
•	 Regular assessment of the voice of the target audiences and stakeholders (Voice
	 of the Customer) to determine if reputational CTQs have changed.
                                                                                       improved substantially
•	 Brainstorming sessions to determine if the reputational messages developed          through data-oriented
	 and the manner of message dissemination comply with current needs and
	 future requirements.                                                                 methods which complement
•	 Ensuring new requirements are embedded into planned processes.
Concerns may exist about the involvement of metrics in what communications
                                                                                       the creativity of
team members believe should be strictly a creative process, but it is important that   communication efforts and
they understand and accept this aspect of process development and improvement
for future situations. Excellence and effectiveness in communications can be           innovative strategies.
improved substantially through data-oriented methods which complement the
creativity of communication efforts and innovative strategies. This approach
can help ensure that a firm outperforms the competition and builds a positive
reputation in the eyes of stakeholders concerned.




                                                                     20/23
Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage



Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage                                           Lean Communications uses
Lean Communications goes beyond the simple application of Lean Six Sigma
principles to the field of communications. It also goes beyond removing waste          Lean Six Sigma to unlock
from communication processes or developing new processes without waste; it’s
about developing, streamlining and fine-tuning communication programs for
                                                                                       the potential of businesses
faster and better results. Lean Communications uses Lean Six Sigma to unlock           through an innovative
the potential of businesses through an innovative approach to communications
strategy. The mode of application of LSS in service sectors differs from one service   approach to
to the other. In the field of public relations and corporate communications,
process development, improvement, and streamlining requires specific and prov-         communications strategy.
en applications of the LSS methodology. Using its own personnel skilled at apply-
ing LSS to corporate communications, Incite helps new and innovative firms de-
velop effective public relations and corporate communication programs with the
following benefits:
•  Improved value of internal processes
•  Increased productivity without increasing resources
•  Strengthening of brands
•  Improved reputations
•  Reduced time-to-market
•  Reduced costs
•  Increased management control efficiency




                                                                     21/23
Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage



All these benefits are achieved synchronously and without improvements resulting     Effective communications
from one affecting the success of another. The positive effects on business growth
are especially important for new and growing businesses competing for                is a key contributor to
public attention while coping with the challenge of media fragmentation.
The need to effectively reach out to target audiences such as social media groups,
                                                                                     business growth by
opinion leaders, bloggers, and industry analysts as part of reputation building      enhancing the public image,
measures is important to a successful enterprise.
Conclusion                                                                           reputation and brand
Effective communications is a key contributor to business growth by enhancing
the public image, reputation and brand power of businesses.
                                                                                     power of businesses.
The multitude of media channels today means that reputations can be made,
broken, and repaired faster than was previously possible when traditional media
was the sole focus of your customers and stakeholders. By understanding that all
processes result in data which can be assessed, Lean Six Sigma provides an
opportunity to develop processes, measure, analyze, and improve the quality
and efficiency of a company’s communications strategy while recognizing the
dynamic nature of the current media landscape. LSS helps by fine-tuning
strategies that ensure sustainability and growth, and helping companies identify
and engage effectively with stakeholders.
Communications Process Improvement (CPI) accelerates from a strong
foundation by applying the same elements of LSS to secure gains and plan for
future improvements in a way relevant to target audiences.




                                                                    22/23
About Incite and the Author



About Incite
Incite helps new, growing, and innovative companies develop and implement
proven communication methods which are scalable, affordable, and deliver
significant advantages for businesses seeking to benefit from the application
of Lean Six Sigma. Incite brings together the entrepreneurial energy of a
start-up with the experience and tools of a Fortune 500 business, merging
process development and improvement together with creativity and innovation
to offer clients communication solutions to help drive their corporate strategies.
About the Author
Reid Walker is a Co-Founder and Principal at Incite, a communication consultancy.
He has led the communication function for Fortune 500 companies, including
GE, Honeywell and Lenovo. He most recently led communications for Deutsche
Telekom’s T-Mobile business. Reid began his career at NASDAQ leading media
relations during a time of crisis and extreme growth. With more than
20 years of experience in multiple sectors, he has led domestic and
international corporate communications programs, including strategic planning
and issues management, media relations, social media programs, internal
communications, crisis, financial, non-profit and community affairs programs.
Reid has experience in a range of sectors including software, hardware, telecom,
chemicals, energy and finance. He received his initial Lean Six Sigma training
at GE and continued to study and implement programs at Honeywell where he
received a black belt in Lean Six Sigma for a global web strategy.




                                                                    23/23
Contact:
        Incite
        220 2nd Ave South
        Seattle, WA 98104
        Phone: 206.641.9750

        Email: contact@incitecommunication.com

        Web: incitecommunication.com

        Twitter: @InciteComms




24/23

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Lean Communications: Process Improvement in PR and Corporate Communications Using Lean Six Sigma

  • 1. Lean Communications: Process Improvement in PR and Corporate Communications Using Lean Six Sigma Reid Walker November 2012 1/23
  • 2. Overview PR and corporate communications programs are critical to the success of Some believe it’s all about your business. However, there is frequently a lack of clarity around the implementation, measurement, and success of many communications having a relationship with programs. Some believe it’s all about having a relationship with a few reporters or sending out the occasional well-written press release, but with the a few reporters or sending fragmentation of the media, everyone is now a consumer and producer of out the occasional well- “media.” Is there a way to create innovative, clutter-busting programs with focused and written press release, but quantifiable business results without wasting time and money? This paper examines the application of Lean Six Sigma in the development and with the fragmentation of improvement of communication programs by showing that the processes the media, everyone is now involved result in data that can be measured and analyzed to deliver more insightful, targeted efforts with more impactful outcomes. Innovative companies a consumer and producer can benefit from growth, adaptability and success while enhancing their brands and reputations with the faster and better results that emerge from improved of “media.” communications programs. 2/23
  • 3. PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge Stakeholder communications plays a critical role in business strategy especially By using quantifiable when it comes to enhancing brands, as well as building and securing reputations in a constantly changing business environment. By using quantifiable data to data to improve the improve the processes involved in communications, businesses can benefit from a targeted approach to achieving reputational goals. processes involved in Social media is clearly one of the most important factors in building reputations, communications, backed by a global population of more than 1.97 billion Internet users with over 266 million located in North America alone. In 2010, 600 million of these businesses can benefit global Internet users were registered on media platforms such as Facebook while 175 million were on Twitter. With such a critical mass of attentive focus, no from a targeted approach business can afford to ignore their social media strategy. Unfortunately media to achieving reputational fragmentation often results in wasted efforts because businesses end up with uncoordinated and ineffective strategies by trying to reach a wider audience goals. through new channels, without knowing whether their efforts are delivering the needed results or not. Having a corporate Instagram account and posting pictures online is pointless if a business cannot determine whether it contributes to their desired reputational goals or whether their target audience is camped out on LinkedIn instead. 3/23
  • 4. PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge With the success recorded by practices such as Lean Six Sigma in process improvement Having a corporate and the high rate of efficiency and quality delivered as a result, it was only a matter of time before considerations were made concerning the application of Lean Six Sigma Instagram account and (LSS) in fields such as PR and corporate communications for process development and improvement. However, making this applicable and useable comes with a number of posting pictures online is challenges. To better understand the core of the “Lean” aspect in LSS, you must pointless if a business know its sole focus: to arrive at efficiency by eliminating waste from a process, where waste refers to aspects that limit process speed and efficiency. According to cannot determine whether Taiichi Ohno of the famous Toyota Production System (TPS), the forerunner to Lean, 7 kinds of Muda, or waste, exist: it contributes to their • Overproduction of products not demanded by customers • Inventories awaiting further processing or consumption desired reputational • Unnecessary over-processing goals... • Unnecessary motion of employees • Unnecessary transport and handling of goods • Waiting for people, processes or functions These definitions of waste serve the manufacturing world but will not work for service processes such as communication. 4/23
  • 5. PR, Corporate Communications and the Service Process Challenge “Sigma” in LSS refers to a statistical deviation from perfection which may result We have to examine and from variations deviating from standards of quality. The problem is that unlike manufacturing where quality standards are usually exact measurements, quality in redefine LSS in the context service processes is based on individual or collective experiences of people not a measurement against certain specifications as it is in manufacturing. As such these of communications challenges arise: programs and processes. • Services processes are focused on people not machines, so standardization is not the ultimate goal. • The fact that we cannot standardize processes means that quality also cannot be standardized. • Visibility of Work in Process (WIP) is often difficult; however the negative connotations are there all the same. • The flow in such processes is typically of information not products. Information may be written or oral and visibility of such information is limited unlike manufacturing where product flow is visible and can be standardized. Other differences exist between service and manufacturing processes however the important factor is that these differences create a challenge in applying Lean Six Sigma to service processes. These problems notwithstanding, significant opportunities do exist. In examining several solutions that are designed for service processes using LSS methodology, the answer lies in redefining LSS concepts and applications in the context of communications programs and processes. 5/23
  • 6. Lean Communications: Improving Quality and Efficiency in the Communications Process Redefining LSS concepts in the service context has been accomplished in finance, 7 Muda (Waste) of healthcare and other sectors. Key changes have been recommended which have some bearing in fields such as corporate communications. In terms of redefining Corporate Communications the concepts, Bicheno and Holweg1 came up with broad-based recommendations 1. Delay for redefining the original 7 Muda for service-based processes. We have adapted these to serve the needs of corporate communications: 2. Duplication • Delay on the part of customers in a communication process where they wait for 3. Unnecessary movement information or a response. The customer’s time may seem free to the provider, but when the quest for information or response is taken elsewhere the pain begins. 4. Unclear communication • Duplication by having to re-enter data, repeat details on forms, copy information 5. Lost opportunity across, or answer the same queries from several sources. • Unnecessary movement with a lack of one-stop solutions to customer 6. Errors in service transaction requirements, creating the need to seek answers from multiple sources. • Unclear communication and the waste of seeking clarification, confusion over product or service use, wasting time finding a location that may result in misuse or duplication. • A lost opportunity to retain or win customers may involve a failure to establish rapport, ignoring customers, unfriendliness, and rudeness. • Errors in the service transaction or product defects in the service. 1 Bicheno, J. and Holweg, M. (2009) “The Lean Toolbox: The Essential Guide to Lean Transformation”,. 4th edition, Buckingham: PICSIE Books 6/23
  • 7. Lean Communications: Improving Quality and Efficiency in the Communications Process This adaptation provides a good entry point for approaching the issue of defining Critical to Quality refers to process improvement within a company’s communication programs from the Lean Six Sigma perspective. In addition, researchers such as Schleusener have the core elements of the also proposed that service-oriented businesses should adopt three principles of statistical thinking in order to apply Sigma methodology to their efforts: service that are necessary • All work is a process. to meet or exceed • All processes have variability. • All processes create data that explains variability.2 customer expectations. This approach means that if we can determine processes that provide data we can measure for variations and deviations from means associated with quality. In terms of defining quality based on customer expectations which are subjective, we can use the principle of conformance to customer Critical to Quality (CTQ) requirements to determine the quality of processes. Critical to Quality refers to the core elements of the service that are necessary to meet or exceed customer expectations. These should be clearly defined and agreed to by all parties. A point based system may be used to collect customer responses and grade them against a scale of expectations in order to provide some standardization. Customers from the communications strategy perspective refers to analysts, bloggers, media, and regulators as important target audiences when it comes to building corporate reputations. Once collective responses have been collated they may be standardized to provide data for comparison of processes against CTQ objectives. Smith, Kennedy. “Six Sigma for the Service Sector.” QualityDigest. Kennedy Smith, May 2012.Web. 31 Oct. 2012. 2 <http://www.qualitydigest.com/may03/articles/01_article.shtml> 7/23
  • 8. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications We agree with Bicheno and Holweg as well as Schleusener that waste can be To better align core LSS redefined for service processes and all work consists of processes which create data that explains variability. To better align core LSS principles to improve a principles to improve a company’s communications programs we recommend adopting a specific Lean Six Sigma approach called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, company’s communications and Control) where the focus is on streamlining programs and obtaining programs we recommend data in order to analyze, develop, refine, and improve processes for better results that create faster and more focused reputational impact. adopting a specific Lean Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications 1. Define Six Sigma approach called Reputation is a critical factor to a company’s success; most efforts of the DMAIC... communications process are aimed at building a reputation for a company and its products while deriving attendant benefits such as increased sales and improved financial performance. However, corporate communications is not a single monolithic process; it consists of several other processes and sub processes. Public relations is an aspect of communications and has its own sub processes which need to be targeted for improvement. Following the Pareto principle, if we can target 20% of the constituent processes that provide the opportunity for improvement, the remaining 80% may benefit from positive results and the entire communications effort improves in terms of quality and effectiveness. Some companies have defined communication strategies that require process improvement; other companies don’t have such requirements in place and need to develop processes as part of a new effective strategy. All these needs are addressed in the Define phase. 8/23
  • 9. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications The relevant processes to be developed or improved should be determined in Reputational CTQs are this first phase by defining the necessary reputational CTQs. These reputational CTQs are key factors that need to be met or improved based on the stated aspects that need to be requirements of targeted stakeholders. Requirements can be derived by examining both the internal and external facets of the company’s strategy, practices, and met or improved based on market. Internal developments are responsible for external consequences and a the stated requirements of synergy between both efforts is required for an effective strategy. Focus on the target audiences of the communication sub process involved and targeted stakeholders. eliciting information from them should help determine the Voice of the Customer in LSS parlance, which means what the target audiences expect or values and their requirements for satisfaction. Requirements can be determined through surveys, interviews, or the use of tools such as a SWOT Matrix which can help provide some parameters for reputational CTQs and processes that need improvement (see Table 1). SWOT FACTOR CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTION Strengths Internal Aspects of the business and its strategy that count towards an improved reputation. Weaknesses Internal Aspects of the business and its strategy that place its reputation at a disadvantage when compared to others. Opportunities External Areas of growth through which a company can enhance its reputation in its niche and marketplace. Threats External Factors which are a threat to reputation and will have to be dealt with. Table 1: Example SWOT Matrix framework for communications. 9/23
  • 10. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications Through SWOT Analysis, a company may discover that one of its reputational ...the process...may have to CTQs is “Great Customer Support.” Following this discovery, the process of customer support may have to be broken down in order to determine its quality be broken down in order drivers and performance requirements from the customer perspective using tools such as CTQ Trees (see Diagram 1): to determine its quality drivers and performance Need Quality Driver Performance Requirement requirements... 96% customers satisfied Waiting Time Calls responded to within 20 seconds Great Customer Support 90% say support response is friendly Friendliness Maintain responses typical of friendly engagement Follow up email/call in 24 hours Follow Up Ask to be of further help Diagram1: CTQ Tree for “Great Customer Support.” 10/23
  • 11. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications If the process was a weakness, process maps would also have to be developed A new company may have in order to provide visualization and determine areas where problems are located, how they affect performance requirements, and how to reduce or eliminate such customer support as part problems. In some cases processes may not even exist and will have to be developed to meet stakeholder expectations. A new company may have customer support of its service offering even as part of its service offering even though it may exist without being part of though it may exist a defined communications strategy. The same company might lack a means of distributing communication to stakeholders about new products and services, without being part of a meaning that this process will have to be developed from scratch and a corresponding communications strategy structured to identify other areas where defined communications they may be lacking completely or require improvement. strategy. 2. Measure Having established process maps and CTQs in the Define phase, at this stage it is time to measure the attributes of target audiences. The extent to which established processes effectively support the reputation of the company and its brand among audiences needs to be ascertained. Stakeholders or target audiences are typically classified into 2 categories: a. Primary Stakeholders: People who are the direct targets of the communication programs of a company. This depends on what the company in question is offering but this audience may consist of groups such as: customers, C-level executives, consultants, decision makers, members of the government, industry analysts, bloggers etc. 11/23
  • 12. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications b. Secondary Stakeholders: Influence in communication Intermediaries who are indirectly targeted in communication efforts such as: partners, social sites, developers, and members of the media among others. means anyone that has a It should be noted that in regular stakeholder analysis, a third category known as Key Stakeholders or Influencers exist. These are either primary or secondary say in how people perceive stakeholders with an influence over others in their organizations or groups. a service or product and However in communications, members of primary and secondary stakeholder groups are all considered key stakeholders because reputations are based on opinions their responses to formed by a collective group of individuals who are either direct or indirect targets of your communications strategy. Everyone in either category 1 or 2 is communication efforts have considered an influencer with varying degrees of importance. to be measured. Consider a company that offers payment processing and had flaws in its gateway made public by a tech blogger having no direct communication channel to inform the company of its problems. Either their communications strategy had no stakeholder analysis that identified the need to target such users or a strat- egy did not exist in the first place. The story could easily damage that business. Influence in communication means anyone that has a say in how people perceive a service or product and their responses to communication efforts have to be measured. New companies need this analysis in order to know how to plan and direct their communications programs. Writing innovative press releases without knowing who these releases are supposed to target in the first place is a wasteful exercise. Through the Measure phase, a business can appropriately classify stakeholders so targeted communications can lead to a higher reputational impact. 12/23
  • 13. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications Using tools such as Mendelow’s Matrix stakeholders can be mapped and classified to determine the appropriate communication efforts required to target specific audiences based on the Power/Interest approach as elaborated by Mitchell and C POWER Agle3. SECTION A POWER/INTEREST WEIGHT Low Interest + Low Power DESCRIPTION Require minimal effort in communication programs but should be monitored INTEREST D B Low Power Should be kept informed INTEREST + High Interest A C High Power Ensure enough information is B + Low Interest provided in order to keep them sufficiently satisfied about the company’s brand and reputation. POWER D High Power These are key players who should be + High Interest encouraged and influenced regularly as part of communication strategy. 3 Mitchell, R. K., B. R. Agle, and D.J. Wood. (1997). “Toward a Theory of Stakeholder Identification and Salience: Defining the Principle of Who and What really Counts.” in: Academy of Management Review 22(4): 853 - 888. 13/23
  • 14. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications For each group of target audiences, a strategy to compare the company’s For each group of target reputational objectives against the actual situation which currently exists must be developed. Teams working on the strategy use metrics to determine when audiences, a strategy to improvement has occurred after refining a process. Using the same example of “Great Customer Service” in the Define phase above, the process could said compare the company’s to have failed or be inefficient if calls are not answered within 20 seconds or a reputational objectives percentage of surveyed customers, e.g. up to 20%, consider support staff unfriendly. Improvement occurs when standards have been attained. When a new against the actual situation company has no such process in the first place, it has to be implemented by comparing standards that apply in the most efficient businesses in its sector, which currently exists must maintaining and improving on such standards. be developed. Using an alternate example, online marketing as a communications process could be said to be ineffective if the process does not correspond to “X” amount of sales, does not lead to a percentage increase in inquiries about a particular product, or the value of the number of purchases on the company’s website is different from the average recorded in a year. Metrics ultimately help ascertain process improvement. Tools such as CTQ Trees can help determine performance requirements for which successive efforts at process development or improvement can be measured. Performance capability gap analysis can help determine the difference between the process status quo, those of competitors, the best in the industry, and other metrics that should help determine what level the process or overall communications strategy ought to be at. 14/23
  • 15. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications 3. Analyze 5 Whys Example The team should now understand their current position and the difference between what they desire and the reality of their position in the market. The 1. Why is this message not working? challenges impacting the attainment of the performance level they need to a. Because we can’t be sure we are reach can be analyzed for root causes. Value-stream maps can be used to target reaching our target audience. areas of improvement such as the appropriate reputational messages to communicate to target key audiences or the lack of relevant data to perform certain 2. Why can’t we be sure of this? internal tasks that help with effective communications. Value stream mapping a. Because our distribution system is is a technique used to analyze the flow of systems and information in order to hard to track and measure. better understand it. 3. Why is that? Other tools and methods of analysis such as the 5 Whys can also be used in this a. Because our target audience is so stage of analysis. For example if reputational messages are being developed, the large. 5 Whys application could be used to determine possible reasons why a message does not have the desired effect on target audiences. It can also be used in 4. Why does it need to be so large? developing entirely new messages as part of its strategy, where questions are a. Because we have a great product asked about reasons the message strategy may not have the desired effect upon that could appeal to a lot of implementation. The 5 Whys help unlock core issues or problem, for example: different audiences and we are 1. Why is this message not working? not sure who we will reach. a. Because we can’t be sure we are reaching our target audience. 5. Why can it not be segmented and 2. Why can’t we be sure of this? measured? a. Because our distribution system is hard to track and measure. 15/23
  • 16. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications 3. Why is that? Care must be taken to en- a. Because our target audience is so large. 4. Why does it need to be so large? sure that the interviews a. Because we have a great product that could appeal to a lot of different audiences and we are not sure who we will reach. result in honest responses 5. Why can it not be segmented and measured? not responses that are giv- The analysis stage involves collaboration by the cross functional teams involved. In the case of reputation, new messages may need to be developed which en in order to benefit from incorporate the priorities that the team decides the company needs to address perceived rewards. as part of its communication strategy, and testing may need to be used on target audiences. For proposed efforts to remain within budgeting requirements cost accounting tools may also be required. Interviews and other means of opinion measurement which take stakeholder responses into account can be compared against desired goals of the reputational messages they might have been subject to. Care must be taken to ensure that the interviews result in honest responses not responses that are given in order to benefit from perceived rewards. Impact can also be determined by finding out focus group opinions through independent research and examining sources of public user opinion, e.g., forums, blogs, social network comments, and other media sources. 16/23
  • 17. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications 4. Improve Process maps resulting At this stage data and information should have emerged from previous phases which will highlight areas of communication tactics and messages which need new from team analysis can help processes or which can be improved, such as the reputational message example described above. Some of the information which may have emerged from earlier in making comparisons phases can include: • List of reputational CTQs ordered by rank. between old processes and • Process maps showing deficient or non-existent communication processes, areas new processes based on that fail, and why they fail. • Measures that identify what elements of independent communication processes recommendations in the need improvement to satisfy reputational CTQ requirements. Measures also identify processes that need to be developed to achieve objectives. “Analyze” phase. • Strategies that address new requirements through varied methods. Process maps resulting from team analysis can help in making comparisons between old processes and new processes based on recommendations in the “Analyze” phase. Showing clear causes of defects or failures in the old way of doing things is critical as well as how the new processes aim to solve the underlying problems. In the case where entirely new processes are being developed with no baseline to compare them to, analysis with the existing processes of a competitor may be required before development. 17/23
  • 18. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications Implementation should be in pilot phases to compare the performances Areas of future improvement of the newly implemented processes and determine if indeed a solution has been found that improves on the existing process. Pilot phases should be compared need to be determined and to determine which provides the most significant degree of effectiveness, determined by the number of reputational CTQs they help improve with worked on as part of a the least amount of risk. Benchmarking tools are essential in this stage to determine the actual rate of process improvement versus the status quo. continuous process known Launch timelines for new process implementation are also a critical aspect as Communications of this phase and should result in a detailed plan which can be tested in real world situations. Internal and external aspects of the strategy will also need to be Process Improvement tweaked to improve the communications program. 5. Control (CPI). Benefits gained should be documented and maintained in order to not lose ground on areas of improvements. Areas for future improvement need to be determined and continuously incorporated as part of Communications Process Improvement (CPI). One key is reputational behavior observed and feedback gained from external sources measured through means such as surveys, opinion gathering, social media monitoring, and other analytical methods. In areas where positive benefits have been gained from new or improved processes, teams must assess such processes and determine a reputational plan of action should circumstances change. 18/23
  • 19. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications This means if the old process was a Plan A and the new process a Plan B, a Continuous improvement contingency Plan C or even an additional Plan D should be in place to deal with potential new problems that may arise impacting the effectiveness of the new means assessing process. Continuous improvement means assessing reputational CTQs to determine if reputational CTQs for there is any change in requirements. The “Great Customer Support” trend may desired audiences to have shifted in a specific sector and using old performance requirements alone may be ineffective. In an age where social media is growing exponentially, determine if there is a Mashable noted that 62% of customers have already used social media for cus- tomer service issues while 56% of the major brands don’t respond to complaint change in requirements. comments on their Facebook page and 71% ignore customer complaints on Twitter4. But that statistic will continue to evolve quickly. Already a large number of companies are shifting towards social media for customer service in addition to regular channels. If this becomes a performance requirement for your sector from the stakeholder perspective, getting in late will be a disadvantage. People want their problems attended to faster and when competitors are doing so via social media, focusing on email and telephone channels alone may be a company’s path to extinction. After all, more people these days spend their time on social networks, with 66% of online adults using social networking websites5. Scenarios such as this make continuous improvement an integral requirement of communications programs. 4 Rollason, Harry. “While Social Media Makes Better Customer Service.” Mashable. Mashable, 09 Sept. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://mashable.com/2012/09/29/social-media-better-customer-service/>. 5 Brenner, Joanna. “Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.” Pew Internet: Social Networking (full Detail). Pew Internet, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 31 Oct. 2012. <http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/March/Pew-Internet- Social-Networking-full-detail.aspx>. 19/23
  • 20. Applying DMAIC to Corporate Communications There should be frequent assessment of existing processes which may work Excellence and optimally in their current configuration but may require improvement if audi- ence requirements and opinions change. Measuring changes and determining effectiveness in how to sustain gains and improve the communications strategy may involve the following: communications can be • Regular assessment of the voice of the target audiences and stakeholders (Voice of the Customer) to determine if reputational CTQs have changed. improved substantially • Brainstorming sessions to determine if the reputational messages developed through data-oriented and the manner of message dissemination comply with current needs and future requirements. methods which complement • Ensuring new requirements are embedded into planned processes. Concerns may exist about the involvement of metrics in what communications the creativity of team members believe should be strictly a creative process, but it is important that communication efforts and they understand and accept this aspect of process development and improvement for future situations. Excellence and effectiveness in communications can be innovative strategies. improved substantially through data-oriented methods which complement the creativity of communication efforts and innovative strategies. This approach can help ensure that a firm outperforms the competition and builds a positive reputation in the eyes of stakeholders concerned. 20/23
  • 21. Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage Lean Communications uses Lean Communications goes beyond the simple application of Lean Six Sigma principles to the field of communications. It also goes beyond removing waste Lean Six Sigma to unlock from communication processes or developing new processes without waste; it’s about developing, streamlining and fine-tuning communication programs for the potential of businesses faster and better results. Lean Communications uses Lean Six Sigma to unlock through an innovative the potential of businesses through an innovative approach to communications strategy. The mode of application of LSS in service sectors differs from one service approach to to the other. In the field of public relations and corporate communications, process development, improvement, and streamlining requires specific and prov- communications strategy. en applications of the LSS methodology. Using its own personnel skilled at apply- ing LSS to corporate communications, Incite helps new and innovative firms de- velop effective public relations and corporate communication programs with the following benefits: • Improved value of internal processes • Increased productivity without increasing resources • Strengthening of brands • Improved reputations • Reduced time-to-market • Reduced costs • Increased management control efficiency 21/23
  • 22. Incite and the Lean Communications Advantage All these benefits are achieved synchronously and without improvements resulting Effective communications from one affecting the success of another. The positive effects on business growth are especially important for new and growing businesses competing for is a key contributor to public attention while coping with the challenge of media fragmentation. The need to effectively reach out to target audiences such as social media groups, business growth by opinion leaders, bloggers, and industry analysts as part of reputation building enhancing the public image, measures is important to a successful enterprise. Conclusion reputation and brand Effective communications is a key contributor to business growth by enhancing the public image, reputation and brand power of businesses. power of businesses. The multitude of media channels today means that reputations can be made, broken, and repaired faster than was previously possible when traditional media was the sole focus of your customers and stakeholders. By understanding that all processes result in data which can be assessed, Lean Six Sigma provides an opportunity to develop processes, measure, analyze, and improve the quality and efficiency of a company’s communications strategy while recognizing the dynamic nature of the current media landscape. LSS helps by fine-tuning strategies that ensure sustainability and growth, and helping companies identify and engage effectively with stakeholders. Communications Process Improvement (CPI) accelerates from a strong foundation by applying the same elements of LSS to secure gains and plan for future improvements in a way relevant to target audiences. 22/23
  • 23. About Incite and the Author About Incite Incite helps new, growing, and innovative companies develop and implement proven communication methods which are scalable, affordable, and deliver significant advantages for businesses seeking to benefit from the application of Lean Six Sigma. Incite brings together the entrepreneurial energy of a start-up with the experience and tools of a Fortune 500 business, merging process development and improvement together with creativity and innovation to offer clients communication solutions to help drive their corporate strategies. About the Author Reid Walker is a Co-Founder and Principal at Incite, a communication consultancy. He has led the communication function for Fortune 500 companies, including GE, Honeywell and Lenovo. He most recently led communications for Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile business. Reid began his career at NASDAQ leading media relations during a time of crisis and extreme growth. With more than 20 years of experience in multiple sectors, he has led domestic and international corporate communications programs, including strategic planning and issues management, media relations, social media programs, internal communications, crisis, financial, non-profit and community affairs programs. Reid has experience in a range of sectors including software, hardware, telecom, chemicals, energy and finance. He received his initial Lean Six Sigma training at GE and continued to study and implement programs at Honeywell where he received a black belt in Lean Six Sigma for a global web strategy. 23/23
  • 24. Contact: Incite 220 2nd Ave South Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206.641.9750 Email: contact@incitecommunication.com Web: incitecommunication.com Twitter: @InciteComms 24/23