Choosing Between Six Sigma and SAP: Which Skill Boosts Your HR Career More?

Hi,

Which skill is best for an HR professional, Six Sigma, or SAP? Which is more relevant to our profession? I have a feeling that Six Sigma is more suitable for the execution or production team. Correct me if I am wrong. If I pursue SAP, what is the highest position I can reach, and how does it differ from general HR applications? I have observed that many HR generalists possess the skill of Six Sigma. How and where does this skill actually help?

Deepthi
gkdeepthi@yahoo.com

Hi Deepthi,

Six Sigma is a methodology that combines management and technology. Six Sigma is very useful in terms of enhancing process efficiency. Process efficiency is gained by laying emphasis on:

- Process documentation - a comprehensive record of all processes, SLAs, metrics, targets, cross-functional maps, templates, reference guides, etc.
- Process audits - process efficiency audit/metric audit/transition audit, etc.
- Process improvements - training and mentoring people to run Lean/Six Sigma projects and implement them.

Six Sigma has a statistical approach to solving business problems and can be applied to any area of business - HR, Finance, Admin, Commercial, etc.

SAP has an organizational approach towards implementing certain modules in a uniform manner across locations, for example, Finance, HR, Sales Development, Quality Management, etc.

Making a career in Six Sigma alone is not enough these days. One has to have a thorough understanding of standards and frameworks to support business, build compliance to streamline productivity, and ultimately improve revenue/turnover and business growth. A career in quality is possible if one has the aptitude for analytics and dealing with people's mindsets in a mature manner.

Making a career in SAP is equally good. Of course, you would need to assess which specialization you would like to take on.

Both the above professions are equally good and rewarding.

Mohan
mpothur@yahoo.com
9880 10 4889
B A N G A L O R E

Dear Mohan,

It's really nice to hear such news from you, but I feel SAP standards are higher when compared to Six Sigma. Correct me if I am wrong. I would love to hear more from you. I have my own plans to pursue SAP. Do you have any plans regarding that so we can communicate better and understand more about it? Can you help me with any ideas?

Regards,
Prince