Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) seems to be cropping up in organizations all across the country these days, as the convenience and portability of these devices allows their owners to do a host of tasks, wherever they are.

Though some see this move as a potential security risk, if personal devices improve worker productivity, this may be a perfect complement for organizations supporting Lean Six Sigma (LSS).

BYOD – Good News, Bad News 

When it comes to considering whether BYOD is right for your business, you must first consider the advantages and disadvantages. Here is what experts report:

  • Due to a familiarity with their own device, employees work more efficiently and effectively, resulting in less down time and easier access to company data from any location, 24/7
  • There is no impact to the company budget to buy, maintain, or replace employee-owned devices
  • Over 60% of employers currently have a BYOD program because it increases employee satisfaction
  • A BYOD program allows a certain degree of flexibility, increasing employee comfort and productivity
  • BYOD provides employers with the ability to attract, retain, and support new talent

However, the biggest concern that employers face is security. Not from employees, who have other avenues to steal company data. The concern is if someone outside the company gains access to the device or if passwords are stored on the device itself.

Therefore, it is incumbent on the company to develop a program and policy to handle the issue of security, such as installing an app to wipe a device’s memory remotely.

Lean Six Sigma and BYOD 

According to a recent Society of Information Management (SIM) survey, the top priority for IT executives in 2012 was to increase business productivity while reducing overhead costs. This is likely unchanged for 2013. Therefore, organizations with a Lean Six Sigma program who want better IT results may eagerly embrace the concept of BYOD based on the benefits it provides.

As the June 2012 Cognizant white paper, “Making BYOD Work for Your Organization,” notes:

Successful organizations will take a proactive approach to embracing and molding BYOD for competitive advantage and the agility to outmaneuver the competition.

In its simplest form, Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven practice for improving quality processes by eliminating waste and defects or variations while increasing speed. Implemented with the right strategy, BYOD is the perfect complementary tool.


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