(Six Sigma) Training Program Research question The first research question will be how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect costs? And the other will be how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect the quality of the outputs of an organization? The study would involve taking a sample of employees in an organization and exposing them to six sigma training program. The sample employees will undergo the training program after which their services will be observed for duration of two years. The aim for this will be to determine any change in organizations operations, services and costs as time goes by. This will help in giving a feedback as to whether the six sigma training program is an efficient technique for an organization to reduce costs and to influence the quality of its services as dictated by the research questions (Johnson, 2010). Dependent Variable Since the study will have two research questions then it will have two dependent variables. The first dependent variable for the study will be change in costs of the organization following the implementation of the six sigma program within the period of two years. On the other hand, the second dependent variable will be the changes in quality of the goods/services produced by the organization for the stated duration. This implies that the dependent variable for the study will be the focus on the change enlisted by the employees to the organization after undergoing the six sigma training program. Independent Variable Independent variable for the study will be implementation of the Six Sigma training program. This is to mean that the independent variable will focus on how the organization will focus on implementing the program to its operations.
Control Variable The control variable for the study will be controlling the human resources for the stated period and also challenges due to the use other performance appraisal programs. In addition, political factors will be another control variable to be observed in this study. This will involve decisions on investment appraisal and taxation among others. Moreover, infrastructure network will be also another control variable for the study. Since flow of raw materials in the organization and also flow of information among the stakeholders will affect the topic under investigation. Finally, the character of the workers will also be another control variable for the study thus calling for attention as the research progresses.
Research Design In answering the research questions how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect costs? and how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect the quality of the outputs of an organization?, the appropriate study approach to use is the quasi longitudinal study. Through the use of this approach, it will be possible to make repeated observations on the change in costs of the organization following the implementation of the six sigma program within the period of two years and also the changes in quality of the goods/services produced by the organization for the stated duration which are the dependent variables of the study. By doing so the researcher will be able to make a conclusion on whether six sigma training program is effective (Johnson, 2010). Nevertheless, through the use of this approach it will be possible to monitor the control variables which will be all factors affecting the human resources. The first concern of this approach is to identify the variables and then group them in to two or more groups. This is to imply that this approach will be very vital for the study since the variables have been laid down. Moreover, the approach will also be compatible with the study since it does not focus on manipulating the sample which is the employees. Johnson (2010) argues that longitudinal study focuses on a follow up of the same sample of individuals under the study. This is to ensure that the analysis of the study is effective just as the approach advocates. Further, the design will be crucial for this study since it uses the pre-posting testing which are tests conducted even before any data is collected. This will help in identifying whether there is any individual with certain tendencies. In so doing quasi longitudinal study design will allow control of the study. In conclusion, quasi longitudinal study design is the most applicable study design for this study since it focuses on controlling all the variables of the study. However, to yield good results under quasi longitudinal study, the researcher need to ensure proper randomization so as to make the statistical tests meaniful.
Sampling Design Sampling design is a very important tool in any research. It entails selection of a subset of a given population normally referred to as a sample and carrying a concrete analysis on it. It goes beyond that and identifies the characteristics of the sample and still justifies and explains the reason for choosing such a sample. The sampling design should be precise to represent the entire population. In addition it should be cost effective and also should enhance faster collection of data as compared to the entire population. This is to imply that the design should also focus on time efficiency that is, it should be time conscious (Johnson, 2010). In answering the research questions how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect costs? and how does the implementation of the Six Sigma Training Program affect the quality of the outputs of an organization?, the appropriate sampling design to use is the simple sampling design which is a probability sampling design. In simple random sampling design each item under study has equal chance to be chosen. With this argument, this design will be very helpful in studying the Six Sigma training program as the sample will at the end be able to sum up information of the whole population. This design has many advantages compared to other sampling design thus makings it appropriate for this study. First, it is free from any classification error as compared to other complex designs such as stratified sampling design where classification error is the order. In addition, it is simple thus easy to interpret and analyze data. Moreover, due to its simplicity the design is economical both moneywise and in terms of resource management. This is unlike other approaches like cluster sampling and stratified sampling where the sample has to be subdivided further thus making them to be uneconomical. It simplicity makes it to be time effective thus any researcher using the design uses less time as compared to other approaches say stratified sampling design. This approach will thus suit this study following the above mentioned advantages (Lohr, 1999). Although enormous advantages of simple sampling design, the researcher needs to take care when selecting the sample size. This is because the smaller the size of the sample in simple sampling technique, the greater the chance of incurring sampling error which may interfere with the study. In addition, a lot of time and time is required in order to make the research efficient. Thus in carrying this study the researcher need to focus on time and labor in order to increase the efficiency of the study. Data Collection Methodology The study will utilize quantitative data collection methodology this is because this method rely on random sampling method which is the research design to be utilized in the study as discussed above. The data collection process will begin with stating and describing participants—these are the units of analysis. This was followed by sampling strategy, data collection methods, research instruments, ethical issues concerning the study, and data management issues. The researcher developed a questionnaire for each group. That is for the organization’s employees, customers, managers and the shareholders. Face-to-face interviews will be conducted with the management and employees with an aim of establishing whether the Six Sigma program was creating changes in reducing the costs of production of the organization. In addition, face to face interviews will be conducted to the customers of the organization to establish whether there is any change in the organization’s quality of the products. Questionnaire will be presented by the researcher in a face to face interview where interviewees will be asked questions and the researcher will fill their responses (Johnson, 2010).
The advantage of such an interview approach include the number of unfilled questionnaires would be reduced, since the researcher fills them from the responses given. Secondly, the researcher was able to clarify any queries concerning the questions. The advantage of this method is that the presence of researcher may impede on the respondents ability to answer freely especially on sensitive information. Another disadvantage is that researcher may introduce biasness when explaining queries arising from the interview.
The data from each questionnaire will then be transferred to the spread sheet after the interview, and because the questionnaires will be administered by the researcher, all the data fields will be complete. Generally, quantitative data collection method is suitable for this study because it is cheaper to implement thus it ensures efficiency in collecting the data. Nevertheless, it is standardized thus it will enable the researcher to make comparisons more easily and also measure any change with easy (Johnson, 2010).
References
Johnson, G. (2010). Research Methods for Public Administrators.2nd Edition. New York: M.E. Sharpe.
