Best practice on the use of a blended PRINCE & Six-Sigma approach.

1. Copyright © 2009 Attra Partners Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Attra Partners Ltd is prohib
PRINCE2® & Six-Sigma for Data Projects
Hany Choueiri, BSc, MSc, MSP & Certified PRINCE2 Trainer and coach writes:
The recent economic crisis has lead to increasing regulatory focus within banking and finance. Particular
focus has been on the accuracy of client and market data which has led many leading financial institutions
to establish data quality and governance functions. Industry opinion is that considerable benefits will result
in the overall management of data and it's deserved treatment as a fundamental asset will finally be
recognised. Institutions of all types can no longer afford to haphazardly create and proliferate data within
their organizations without appropriate governance. The lessons have been learned - quality data is the
fuel of the modern day enterprise.
The evolution and establishment of these data quality functions is gradually maturing with the adoption of
structured approaches, tools & techniques. With extensive experience in the Data Management domain,
Hany Choueiri has developed a high level framework (using PRINCE2 and Six-Sigma) which can be
adopted for improved governance of data centric projects. The white paper/high level framework has
recently been published as a case study in Inside Reference Data (Feb 2011 Edition). Familiarity with
PRINCE2 and Six-Sigma is assumed in the following diagrams.
If you have any questions or comments please email hany.choueiri@attrapartners.com
Linkedin Profile: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/hanychoueiri
Copyright © 2009 Attra Partners Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without
express written permission of Attra Partners Ltd is prohibited
Attra Partners Limited is an affiliate of Rovsing Management A/S. PRINCE2® is a Registered Trademark of the
Rovsing Management A/S is an accredited ATO by the APMG on Office of Government Commerce in the
behalf of the OGC (Office of Government Commerce U.K.). United Kingdom and other countries.

2. PRINCE2
PRINCE2® integrated with Six-Sigma (DMAIC) (Processes)
(for Reference & Data Quality Projects)
One or more One or more
Stage #1 Stage #2 Management Stages Management Stages
Six-Sigma Six-Sigma Six-Sigma
Starting-up a (Measure)
Six-Sigma (Improve) (Control)
Project Initiation (Analyze)
(Improve)
Project Stage Measure Execute Data Develop the
Pre-project Execute Data
Execute Data
Mandate Remediation
Remediation Remediation Controls
Directing DP Give ad-hoc Direction Authorize Project Closure
Executive Authorize Authorize the Authorize a Stage
Senior Supplier(s) Initiation Project or Exception Plan
Senior User(s)
...
Managing SU SB SB SB ... CP
Project Manager IP CS CS
... CS
Delivering
Team Manager MP MP ... MP
SU – Staring MP – Managing IP – Initiating SB – Stage DP – Directing CS – Controlling CP – Closing
PRINCE2 up a Project Product Delivery a Project Boundaries a Project a Stage a Project
Six-Sigma
Attra Partners Limited is an affiliate of Rovsing Management A/S. PRINCE2® is a Registered Trademark of the
Rovsing Management A/S is an accredited ATO by the APMG on Office of Government Commerce in the
behalf of the OGC (Office of Government Commerce U.K.). United Kingdom and other countries.

3. PRINCE2
PRINCE2® integrated with Six-Sigma (DMAIC) (Processes)
(for Reference & Data Quality Projects)
NOTES:
 The Six-Sigma Define phase is mapped onto the PRINCE2 Starting-Up a Project (SU) process. The specific activity
within SU (not shown in the diagram) being Prepare the Outline Business Case .
 The Six-Sigma Measure and Analyze can be executed in Stage 2 of a PRINCE2 project (or split across a number of
Stages for very large and complex Data Quality remediation)
 The Managing aStage Boundary (SB) at the end of Stage 2 gives the Project board the opportunity to review the
status and ensure that accurate analysis has been conducted, and that the ultimate root causes(s) have been
identified. Authorization to proceed to the next stage (Stage 3) can be given in the Directing a Project Process (DP)
within the Authorize a Stage or Exception Plan PRINCE2 activity.
 Stage 3 can implement the Six-Sigma Improve phase, which is the heart of the data remediation and quality
improvement. It may also involve typically involve IT system enhancements and process improvements in order to
remediate the root cause of the data quality problems. Manual remediation efforts may also involve individuals from the
Senior User community to assist with data validation.
 Stage 4 can implement the Six-Sigma Control phase which in this model represents the development of the necessary
Controls (not their implementation). The execution of the Controls can commence post Project Closure after hand-
over to the most relevant operations group (see next note)
 During the PRINCE2 Closing a Project Process (CP), product handover is undertaken (via the Hand-Over Products
PRINCE2 activity within CP) and should include not only remediated data, but also the Controls developed during the
project. These Controls will be executed regularly by the operational groups in order to ensure that the data
remediation is permanent and no further data corruption occurs
Attra Partners Limited is an affiliate of Rovsing Management A/S. PRINCE2® is a Registered Trademark of the
Rovsing Management A/S is an accredited ATO by the APMG on Office of Government Commerce in the
behalf of the OGC (Office of Government Commerce U.K.). United Kingdom and other countries.

4. PRINCE2
(Organization)
PRINCE2® integrated with Six-Sigma (DMAIC)
(for Reference & Data Quality Projects)
Corporate or programme management
Project Board
Senior User(s) Senior Supplier(s)
Executive
Data Quality Stream Lead
Business Function Head IT Lead
(Head of Data Quality)
Asset Class Owner Offshore Lead 2
1 Business, User & Supplier Change Authority
Project Assurance
3 Project Manager
Project Support
Team Manager(s)
4 Team members
Typical User Assurance responsibilities can reside with a PRINCE2 qualification and a good appreciation of the
1 RTB/BAU (business as usual) reporting function 3 Six-Sigma philosophy are paramount.
In cases where a partially offshore/onshore model is 4 Team Members typically consist of strong Data Analysts.
2 adopted, board representation by a senior offshore lead is Some Data Modelling expertise may also be beneficial to
desirable help identify weaknesses in the current data landscape
Attra Partners Limited is an affiliate of Rovsing Management A/S. PRINCE2® is a Registered Trademark of the
Rovsing Management A/S is an accredited ATO by the APMG on Office of Government Commerce in the
behalf of the OGC (Office of Government Commerce U.K.). United Kingdom and other countries.