The webinar discusses the role of the system architect. The system architect helps organizations implement process improvement frameworks like the 6CON model to break rework cycles. As resident visionary and program manager, the system architect develops the physical value stream, manages the new way of working, and mentors and coaches others. When getting started, a system architect should align stakeholders around the need for change, start with meaningful pilot projects, demand organizational stability, and make help truly helpful through situational coaching. The goal is for organizations to achieve short lead times, built-in quality, flexibility and simplicity through a repeatable process improvement approach.

1. The Power of
Process: The Role of
the System Architect
Hosted by
Host: Mark Graban
Senior Advisor, KaiNexus
Mark@KaiNexus.com
Presenter: Eric Ethington
President, LeanShift Consulting
erice@leanshift.com

2. About Eric Ethington
• 35 years of work experience
– Delphi, Textron
• President of LeanShift Consulting
• Co-author of The Power of
Process
• B.S.I.E., Kettering University
• MBA, University of Michigan Flint
• Six Sigma Design Black Belt

3. The Power of
Process: The
Role of the
System
Architect
Eric Ethington
KaiNexus Webinar
November 18, 2021

4. The Role of the System Architect
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Establish familiarity with the 6CON model
• Define the role of the System Architect and supporting skills
• Share practical lessons learned for a System Architect getting
started
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington

5. Why this book? Breaking the Re-work cycle
• Frustration
• Own careers
• Organizations we’ve observed
• Touzen vs. Kaizen
• Article by Jim Womack, 2008
• Development Re-work
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington

6. 6CON model: A Brief Overview
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
CONtext
CONcepts
CONverge
CONfigure
P
D
C
A
CONfirm
CONtinuously
Improve

7. System Architect
Idea Delivery
A framework to drive the right learning
at the right time
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
C
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f
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Context
Outputs
•Short Lead Time
•Built-in Quality
•Flexible, Low-Cost
Capacity &
Resources
•Simplicity &
Manageability
•And a Process to do
it again….
C
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n
v
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r
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C
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8. System Architect
Idea Delivery
A framework to drive the right learning
at the right time
10
©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
Developing the Physical Value Stream
Managing and Spreading the New Way of Working

9. Architect
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
*Dave Logozzo, President Co-Learning Partnerships, LEI Senior Deployment Leaders Seminar, October 22-23, 2009
ar•chi•tect noun
1 : one who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or
other large structures
2 : one that plans, devises or organizes
something
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th edition
*

10. System Architect
Idea Delivery
System Architect: Role
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
Developing
the
Physical
Value
Stream
Managing
and
Spreading
the
New
Way
of
Working
Mentor & Coach
Resident Visionary
Liaison
Program Manager
(Timing & Performance)
Program Manager
(Timing & Performance)
Mentor & Coach
Resident Historian

11. System Architect
Idea Delivery
System Architect: Getting Started
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington
Developing
the
Physical
Value
Stream
Managing
and
Spreading
the
New
Way
of
Working
1) Align on a shared
reason for change
4) Make “help” helpful
3) Have a bias toward
organizational
stability
5) Coach situationally
7) Avoid lexicon traps
2) Pick something
meaningful & try
8) Engage HR – for
feedback and to
create career paths
6) You can mentor “upward”

12. Thank you!
erice@leanshift.com
www.thepowerofprocess.solutions

13. Future Webinars
Be notified of future webinars: www.KaiNexus.com/webinars

14. The KaiNexus Blog
blog.KaiNexus.com

15. The KaiNexus Podcast
• www.KaiNexus.com/podcasts
• Subscribe via:
– Apple Podcasts
– Google Podcasts
– Stitcher
– Spotify

16. Q&A
• Web:
– www.kainexus.com
– blog.kainexus.com
– www.LeanShift.com
• Webinars on Demand:
– www.kainexus.com/webinars
• Social Media:
– www.twitter.com/kainexus
– www.linkedin.com/company/kainexus
– www.facebook.com/kainexus
Mark Graban
Senior Advisor, KaiNexus
Mark@KaiNexus.com
Presenter: Eric Ethington
President, LeanShift Consulting
erice@leanshift.com

17. QUESTIONS?
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington

18. APPENDIX
1. Align around a shared reason for needing to change
2. Pick something meaningful & try
3. Choose battles – beach head; excuse remover; stagnator?
4. Demand organizational stability
5. Help should be helpful
6. Coach situationally: Inquiry, Instructional, Insistant?
7. Confirm next steps…..”based on this discussion, what do you think is next?”
8. Watch for Lexicon traps
9. Engage HR & create career paths
10. Operational declaration
11. Communicate the plan and progress in a meaningful way
12. Coach finance on calculating savings
13. Plan aggressively but execute & learn step-by-step
14. Creating a culture vs. declaring: good work makes a good culture
15. Tools do not begat a process
16. Start with your current state
17. Technical & social
18. Leverage A3 thinking and practice
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©2021, The Power of Process, Zayko & Ethington