Most small businesses still do not engage in large scale improvement programs (for example, Six Sigma), normally because they do not think that such tools are needed for their smaller operations, or because they believe costs are prohibitive, and those initiatives should be left for larger corporations.

I have some different thoughts on this, and the Small Business, Big Gains article in the Six Sigma Blog was my incentive to write a few lines on this issue.

The fact is that improvement programs are very important for smaller businesses, because they can create a strategic difference and prepare themselves for organized growth. The fact that the organization is small should even be a plus when deciding about improvement programs, since deployment is usually simpler and faster.

You don’t need to deploy a company-wide program initially. Training costs may be too high, and the culture may not be adequate at that moment. Instead, begin using the improvement tools in specific situations, in order to get employee involvement. Ask their opinion about the initiative and establish a measurement and improvement culture step by step.

After this initial phase (getting to know the tools), expand the program to small projects that can give an evident improvement. Make it small, but make it well. This small success will be the driver for larger projects that will truly make the difference in the company.

Although the impact won’t be as strong as in a large-scale program, it will certainly be a safer and steady way. This process also allows a gradual investment in training, which may be more suitable to your possibilities.

In any case, leadership commitment to the program (large or small) is essential to its success. Be careful in your initiatives to make them sincere and efficient, or else you company could end up like this.