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What Are the Key Differences Between a Project Charter and a Control Plan?
Ace your Lean Six Sigma exam by understanding the Project Charter, the central document of the Define phase. Learn how it formalizes a project’s problem, scope, and goals, and how it differs from a Control Plan, Balanced Scorecard, or Regression Model.
Question
What document is central to the Define phase?
A. Project Charter
B. Balanced Scorecard
C. Regression Model
D. Control Plan
Answer
A. Project Charter
Explanation
The Project Charter formalizes problem, scope, and goals. This document is the cornerstone of the Define phase and serves as the formal authorization and guide for the entire Six Sigma project.
The Role of the Project Charter
The Project Charter is a living document created during the Define phase that provides a high-level overview of the improvement project. It acts as a contract between the project team and the organization’s leadership, ensuring alignment on the project’s objectives. Its purpose is to formalize the problem, scope, and goals, preventing scope creep and keeping the team focused. Key elements typically included in a Project Charter are:
- Business Case: Explains why the project is important to the organization and how it aligns with strategic goals.
- Problem Statement: A clear and concise description of the issue the project aims to solve, supported by preliminary data.
- Goal Statement: A specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goal that defines success.
- Project Scope: Defines the boundaries of the project, clarifying what is included and what is not.
- Team Roles and Responsibilities: Lists the project sponsor, champion, team leader, and members.
- Timeline: Outlines the key milestones for each phase of the DMAIC process.
Analysis of Incorrect Options
B. Balanced Scorecard: This is a strategic management performance metric used to track the execution of activities by staff within their control and to monitor the consequences arising from these actions. It is a high-level organizational tool, not a project-specific document for defining a single improvement initiative.
C. Regression Model: A regression model is a statistical tool used during the Analyze phase of DMAIC. Its purpose is to quantify the relationship between inputs (X’s) and an output (Y), helping to identify the root causes of a problem, not to define the project itself.
D. Control Plan: The Control Plan is the main deliverable of the final Control phase of DMAIC. It is a document that outlines the steps required to ensure that the improvements made to the process are sustained over time and that performance does not degrade.
Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve exam and earn Lean Six Sigma: Define, Analyze & Improve certificate.