The Credit Professional Fall 2015 | Page 23

continued from page 22 For a company just starting the training and projects, you will see your first project completions in one year. It is not a short term fix and thus requires strategic commitment from all levels of the organization. If your organization does not hire certified Black Belts and Master Black Belts into the company, it will take five years to develop them from within. During that time, you will make great strides in solving systemic problems. One of my financial service clients is currently having more than 20 employees trained in Green Belt DMAIC projects (to improve processes), and two employees that are Green Belt certified are now learning Design for Six Sigma to design new products, processes, technology, and organizations. Each of these individuals is running a project which is solving a problem. They are changing the ways that loans are processed; how customer service addresses phone calls; how work is moved through different departments; and how to remove risk from products and services. Even though it takes time to implement the programs and training, work is being done and large numbers of employees are engaged and the organization is learning! Dr. Michelle Cox has a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. She teaches classes to undergraduate and graduate students at The University of the Incarnate Word, located in San Antonio, in the areas of human resources; organizational development; process improvement, change management, project management; and leadership. She also consults for Aventine Hill Partners, Inc., when clients need help with HR, OD, Process Improvement, Change Management and Leadership Coaching. She can be reached via [email protected] or michelle.cox@aventinehillinc. com About the author: Certification—The Key to Your Future Showcases Your Expertise Helps Advance Your Career Recognizes Your Accomplishments Download the certification application form at: www.creditprofessionals.org The application form is also available by mail from Credit Professionals International, P. O. Box 220714 St. Louis MO 63122 October 2015 23 The Credit Professional