Looking to advance your business career by learning about project management or Lean Six Sigma, but not sure which approach is right for you?
UW Professional & Continuing Education offers certificate programs in both in-demand disciplines, so you can gain exactly the skills you want. Here’s a quick primer on the major distinctions — and how you can get started.
The Breakdown: Differences and Similarities
1) How does project management differ from Lean Six Sigma?
Project management applies structured processes, tools and techniques to manage a targeted project effectively and efficiently, from initiation to completion. A project manager ensures that a team meets its project goal while staying within constraints of the budget, schedule and available resources.
“A project is, by definition, a temporary endeavor with a beginning and an end — and usually involves a predetermined solution to roll out,” says Nathan Navarro, a longtime Lean Six Sigma expert and instructor for the UW Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Management: Black Belt.
Lean Six Sigma — named from the combination of the Lean Enterprise Management System and Six Sigma methodologies — is an approach that improves work processes throughout an entire organization, intended to satisfy both customer and leadership requirements. Lean Six Sigma professionals draw on unique approaches to analyze business processes and workstreams to improve efficiency, productivity and quality, while reducing operational costs and process variation.
“In Lean Six Sigma, we want to make sure we understand the root cause of a problem before implementing solutions,” Navarro says. “Also, there's no end to making improvements to daily work. It’s continuous, not temporary.”
2) How are project management and Lean Six Sigma similar?
Both project management and Lean Six Sigma are recognized, industry-standard disciplines that can help reduce operating, administrative and material costs. And both methods follow structured approaches, define different phases and use specific tools to track progress and measure outcomes.
I tell my students to learn about both so that they will understand when to use each discipline, and when there’s overlap.
—
Nathan Navarro, instructor, UW Certificate in Lean Six Sigma: Black Belt
In fact, Navarro says he’s seen many job postings for project managers that describe both Lean Six Sigma and project management responsibilities.
“I tell my students to learn about both so that they will understand when to use each discipline, and when there’s overlap,” he says.
3) What certifications can I earn in project management and Lean Six Sigma?
Project management: Most project managers who want to earn a formal certification pursue the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential from the Project Management Institute. This widely respected certification comes up frequently in job listings and other professional contexts.
▸As an approved provider of project management training by the Project Management Institute (PMI)®, UWPCE courses, such as the UW Certificate in Project Management, can fulfill the education requirements for both the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® and the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification.
▸For help preparing for certification exams, consider taking UWPCE’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® Exam Prep and/or Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Prep courses.
Lean Six Sigma: The most common Lean Six Sigma skills and credentials are categorized in a system of “belts” — similar to martial arts, each belt signifies a particular level of competency.
You can gain belt-level skills through two UWPCE programs that follow industry guidelines, preparing you for exams if you decide to pursue a Six Sigma certification. Depending on your career trajectory, learning both skillsets could be a great move:
▸UWPCE’s Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt course can help you learn basic tools and techniques to solve process problems and independently lead improvement projects of all kinds.
▸ If you’re looking to step up to a leadership role, you might consider continuing your journey to earn the UW Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Management: Black Belt. You’ll prepare to manage organizational change efforts, resolve conflict within teams, or serve as a liaison between process improvement teams and projects sponsors. With Black Belt-level skills, you'll also be prepared to train new Green Belts, facilitate small or large groups, or even serve as a coach to organizational leaders.
Navarro says there isn’t a single, industry-leading Six Sigma certification, and employers aren’t typically interested in a particular credential. Instead, he says, they look to hire professionals who understand the discipline.
“I've had a lot of Lean Six Sigma students who have acquired great continuous improvement jobs and career advancements with their UW certificate, without the need for other certifications,” Navarro says.
4) Are project management and Lean Six Sigma skills in demand?
Yes — labor-analytics firm Lightcast projects that in the next two years, U.S. demand for skills in Lean Six Sigma will rise 10%, and demand for project management skills will be up nearly 20%.
If you’re ready to jump into these high-demand fields, consider getting started with a UWPCE course, such as Foundations of Project Management or Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt.
“This course was intentionally designed to be practical, engaging and immediately applicable,” says Nicole “Nikki” Nisbet, an instructor for UWPCE’s Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt course. “It’s not a sit-back-and-listen class. You’ll actively apply Lean Six Sigma tools to real-world problems, practice facilitation, and build skills you can use right away.”
Learn More About Project Management and Lean Six Sigma
Check out these UW Professional & Continuing Education courses and certificate programs to find out how you can build your skills for these in-demand business disciplines and related certifications:
Project Management
Lean Six Sigma