This may tilt the balance against the Green Belts, but there is an opposing view which states that given the right training and motivation, Green Belts may manage to acquire the right skills and knowledge that are necessary for ensuring the success of Six Sigma implementations.

Both views are equally potent, and it all depends how well an organization goes about converting these views into reality.

But Why Opt For Green Belts In The First Place?

Well, this one is not all that difficult to answer obviously because everyone in the industry knows that Six Sigma professionals such as Black Belts and Master Black Belts charge top dollar for their services.

Hiring the costly services of Black Belts may not be a problem for large businesses, but as far as small businesses are concerned, it certainly becomes a big issue for them. Small businesses do not have deep pockets like their larger counterparts, and this is the main reason these businesses try to improvise.

The thought of replacing Black Belts with Green Belts is the direct result of such improvisations; and considering the fair amount of success achieved in this direction, it wouldn't be wrong to say that if used properly, such improvisations can deliver very good results.

Providing the Right Training to Green Belts

Businesses that are planning to go all Green should first ensure that their Green Belts get the right Six Sigma training. Training should include both theoretical and practical training and should cover all the various topics that are generally a part of Black Belt training.

For best results, Green Belts should be allowed to choose their own area of expertise. This will make it easier for them to learn new concepts and techniques that they might be taught during the training period.

It will also keep them motivated and as a result they will not feel burdened by the additional responsibilities that they might have to shoulder in their new role.

Starting Small

To avoid risking it all on untested Green Belts, what businesses can do is start on a small scale initially. The best option would be to start with Pilot projects having limited liabilities. This way, the core business will remain unaffected even if something goes terribly wrong with the all Green Six Sigma implementation.

If however, the Green implementation turns out to be a success, it will prove to be a turning point for the business. The business can then opt for full scale Green Six Sigma implementations.

So, we can conclude that all Green Six Sigma implementations are certainly possible if the prescribed guidelines are followed. Now it's up to businesses as to how they plan to achieve the same.