Being Mean doesn't mean what you think it means! (#67)


Being Mean doesn’t mean what you think it means!

Reflecting back to fond memories (just kidding) of grade school math, you’ll remember that there are three basic values used to teach students about groups of numbers. In Six Sigma, we use these values to measure Central Tendency. These measurements are:

Mean; the sum of all the numbers in the data set divided by the amount of numbers represented.

Median; the very middle number of the data set (if there are two middle numbers, the median value would be the average of the two numbers).

Mode; the number most represented in the data set.

Today I want to talk to you about how being Mean doesn’t mean what you think it means!

The value of Mean is a measurement for Central Tendency. It takes into account every individual value in the data set. It thinks of others! Unlike the schoolyard bully you may remember 😊

However, finding the value of Mean has its constraints. To be able to determine the Mean (Average) value of the data set, said data must be in numerical order. If you are using nominal data values (data based on attributes/ characteristics) you will not be able to determine the Mean Value. An example of nominal data where you would not be able to determine the Mean would be in review of deficient loan apps.

The value of Mean is also considered to be the “Arithmetic Center” of a set of data. It is called this because of how you find the Mean. To do so, you must add each value in the data set and then divide by the number of values there are in the distribution. Check out these examples below.

Data Set #1

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Mean = (1+2+3+4+5+6)/6= 3.5

Data Set #2

1, 2, 3, 4, 25: Mean = (1+2+3+4+25)/5 = 7



Using Mean has its pro’s and con’s though, depending on the numerical values of the data. We’ve learned that Mean takes into account every individual value (which is most often considered a valuable aspect of the Mean) however, it is also vulnerable to skewing due to outlying data values (extreme numerical data like in data set #2). The Mean determined in Data Set #2 could be considered an anomalous value because the majority of the values are smaller than the found mean.



Just like Ed Sheeran, its important to know the shape of you.. I mean your data 😊



When using the Mean to measure Central Tendency, it is important to understand how your data is shaped. A normal distribution of data would be shaped in a bell curve. If the shape is not “normal,” the Mean value may not be the best way to measure Central Tendency since it is typically used to determine the most central value in a normal data distribution.

If you view your data set in statistical tools (something like Minitab) you might possibly determine that the data is not in a normal shape but it IS positively or negatively skewed. Situations like this would leave you to find that the Median Value may be the best measurement of Central Tendency. Most of the time the Median value will be very different from the Mean Value.

How do you determine the Mean of your distribution? Has it always been the best way to measure Central Tendency? Let us know in the comments!

About Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.
We are Certified as an Accredited Training Organization with the International Association of Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)
“The IASSC Accredited Training Organization (ATO) designation validates Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. has demonstrated adequate management systems, courseware with a high degree of correlation to the subject matter contained in the IASSC Bodies of Knowledge, delivery schema consistent with such content and highly qualified instructors.”
We Provide Public Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Training Courses in 34 Cities across the globe.
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We Provide Onsite Lean Six Sigma Certification Training. Some of the training's we provide are: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Lean Six Sigma Champions Training and Lean Certifications for Healthcare, Finance, I.T, Manufacturing, Processing, Logistics, Retail Sales and Government.
SSDSI will come to your site to train for your choice of the Lean Six Sigma Certification Levels. Onsite training is more cost effective than open enrollment training when training larger groups of team members.
Benefits of Onsite Training:
The Training is focused on Your Opportunities
SSDSI uses your opportunities in class (vs. generic examples)
You will get the experience of a seasoned Lean and Six Sigma Master Black Belt who will help mentor you while completing your Lean and Six Sigma Project
You can train up to 20 employees for one fixed cost (this cost includes course ware and the instructors travel & lodging)
Our courses are full of games, simulations, and active learning to help the adult learner
SSDSI can customize the training to meet your company’s particular training needs
Call Kevin Clay at 214-731-3176 or email at kclay@sixsigmadsi.com for more information

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