Team Contract Template

A Team Contract in Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a formal agreement among project team members that defines roles, responsibilities, expectations, and ground rules for collaboration throughout the DMAIC cycle. It ensures accountability, alignment, and smooth teamwork.

📌 Purpose of a Team Contract in LSS

  • Clarifies roles: Defines who is responsible for what (e.g., Champion, Black Belt, Green Belt, Process Owner).

  • Sets expectations: Outlines how the team will communicate, make decisions, and resolve conflicts.

  • Builds accountability: Ensures each member commits to project goals and deliverables.

  • Supports DMAIC discipline: Keeps the team aligned with structured phases and milestones.

  • Reduces conflict: Establishes agreed-upon norms for behavior and collaboration.

🗂️ Typical Components of a Team Contract

  1. Team Purpose & Objectives

    • Link to project charter and business case.

    • Define measurable goals (e.g., reduce defects by 20%).

  2. Roles & Responsibilities

    • Champion: Provides sponsorship and resources.

    • Black Belt: Leads methodology and analysis.

    • Green Belt: Supports data collection and improvement.

    • Process Owner: Ensures sustainability.

    • SMEs/Support roles: Provide expertise.

  3. Ground Rules

    • Meeting frequency and format.

    • Decision-making process (consensus, majority vote, sponsor approval).

    • Communication channels (email, dashboards, weekly reports).

    • Conflict resolution approach.

  4. Commitments

    • Attendance and participation expectations.

    • Timely delivery of assigned tasks.

    • Respect for diverse perspectives.

  5. Signatures & Agreement

    • Each member signs to acknowledge commitment.

    • Acts as a reference point if issues arise.

📊 DMAIC Fit

  • Define Phase → Team contract is created alongside the project charter to establish structure.

  • Measure & Analyze → Guides collaboration during data collection and root cause analysis.

  • Improve → Ensures accountability for piloting and implementing solutions.

  • Control → Reinforces sustainability by clarifying ownership of new processes.

🎯 Key Takeaway

A Team Contract in LSS is essentially the “rules of engagement” document for the project team. It complements the project charter by focusing on team dynamics and accountability, ensuring that Lean Six Sigma projects run smoothly and deliver results.