Approval - Lean Six Sigma Glossary

Approval is the process of evaluating and accepting or rejecting a proposal or product. It is a crucial step in the decision-making process and can have a significant impact on the outcome. Getting or not getting approvals on time can make a huge difference in decision making process.

Types of Approval

Formal Approval: This type of approval is given by a designated authority or committee. It is typically used for significant projects or decisions that have a significant impact on an organization.
Informal Approval: This type of approval is given by individuals or teams without a designated authority. It is typically used for small decisions or projects that do not have a significant impact on an organization.
Self-approval: This type of approval is given by an individual or team to themselves. It is typically used for personal projects or decisions.

Importance of Approval

Quality Control: Approval helps to ensure that products or proposals meet a certain standard of quality. It helps to identify and eliminate defects or issues before they become a problem.
Compliance: Approval helps organizations to comply with regulations and laws. It ensures that products or proposals meet legal and ethical standards.
Cost Savings: Approval can help to reduce costs by identifying and eliminating defects or issues early in the process. It can also help to identify and eliminate unnecessary expenses.
Risk Management: This helps organizations to identify and manage risks. It helps to ensure that products or proposals are safe and meet the needs of the organization and its stakeholders.

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Quick Approval

Quick approval is the process of obtaining approval for a proposal or product in a short period of time. It is often used in situations where time is of the essence, such as in emergency or urgent situations. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of quick approvals.

Advantages

Time-saving: It can save time by getting a decision made quickly. This can be particularly beneficial in emergency or urgent situations.
Reduced Costs: It can reduce costs by eliminating the need for additional resources or expenses.
Increased Efficiency: It can increase efficiency by allowing organizations to move forward with a proposal or product quickly.
Better Decision Making: It can improve decision making by allowing organizations to respond to changing circumstances quickly.

Disadvantages

Lack of Due Diligence: It can lead to a lack of due diligence, which can result in poor quality products or decisions.
Risk of Mistakes: It can increase the risk of mistakes, particularly if not enough time is spent on evaluating the proposal or product.
Lack of Input: It can limit the amount of input that is received from stakeholders, which can result in poor quality products or decisions.
Limited Time for Review: It can limit the time available for review, which can result in poor quality products or decisions.

Approval is a crucial step in the decision-making process. It helps organizations to ensure that products or proposals meet a certain standard of quality, comply with regulations and laws, reduce costs, and manage risks. Understanding the different types of approval and their importance can help organizations to make better decisions and achieve their goals.

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Sachin Naik

Passionate about improving processes and systems | Lean Six Sigma practitioner, trainer and coach for 14+ years consulting giant corporations and fortune 500 companies on Operational Excellence | Start-up enthusiast | Change Management and Design Thinking student | Love to ride and drive