Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Define Phase: Project Charter 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a well-written project charter problem statement?
- Customer complaints are caused by inadequate training of service reps.
- Reduce defect rate by 50% within six months.
- Order processing errors average 12% over the last quarter, resulting in $2M in rework costs annually. (Correct answer)
- The order processing system needs to be replaced with a new ERP platform.
Correct answer: Order processing errors average 12% over the last quarter, resulting in $2M in rework costs annually.
A good problem statement quantifies the problem and its impact without stating a cause or predetermined solution.
Question 2: In a project charter, the 'project scope' section is best described by which analogy?
- A thermometer measuring current performance
- A fence defining what is inside and outside the project (Correct answer)
- A roadmap detailing every task the team will complete
- A contract guaranteeing specific financial outcomes
Correct answer: A fence defining what is inside and outside the project
Scope defines the boundaries of the project — what processes, products, and timeframes are included and excluded.
Question 3: A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt should update the project charter when:
- The team completes the first team meeting
- Significant changes occur to scope, timeline, or objectives (Correct answer)
- The project moves from Measure to Analyze phase
- The sponsor requests a status update
Correct answer: Significant changes occur to scope, timeline, or objectives
The charter is a living document that should be updated when material changes affect scope, goals, or timeline to keep it aligned with current reality.
Question 4: Which tool is most commonly used in the Define phase alongside the project charter to map the high-level process being improved?
- Control chart
- SIPOC diagram (Correct answer)
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Regression analysis
Correct answer: SIPOC diagram
The SIPOC diagram provides a high-level view of the process (Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs, Customers) and supports charter development.
Question 5: A project charter milestone plan differs from a detailed project plan in that it:
- Includes every task and subtask at the work-package level
- Shows only major deliverables and phase-gate dates at a high level (Correct answer)
- Is created by the project sponsor rather than the Black Belt
- Is mandatory only for projects exceeding $1 million in savings
Correct answer: Shows only major deliverables and phase-gate dates at a high level
A milestone plan in the charter identifies key phase-gate dates and major deliverables, while detailed task-level planning occurs separately.
Question 6: When defining project team composition in the charter, which role is typically responsible for removing organizational obstacles for the team?
- Black Belt
- Green Belt
- Champion/Sponsor (Correct answer)
- Master Black Belt
Correct answer: Champion/Sponsor
The Champion or Sponsor uses their organizational authority to clear barriers, secure resources, and keep the project politically supported.
Question 7: The 'baseline performance' metric documented in a project charter serves which purpose?
- It sets the final target the team must achieve
- It establishes the starting point against which improvement will be measured (Correct answer)
- It defines the customer's minimum acceptable specification
- It describes the industry benchmark for the process
Correct answer: It establishes the starting point against which improvement will be measured
Baseline performance captures current state data so improvement can be quantified by comparing post-project performance to it.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Define Phase: Project Charter 3
Which of the following is an example of a well-written project charter problem statement?