(IQPC: London) -- Success stories such as Poland being the only European country to show economic growth during 2009 appear to be giving hope to a region that has found the last two years incredibly difficult. With countries such as Hungary, Latvia, and Romania in need of aid from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the approach taken at organizations like Alstrom could help companies out of a difficult situation.

The prospect of success coupled with the need for austerity is putting the Eastern European nations, perhaps surprisingly, at the forefront of the latest business process excellence movement. Methodologies such as lean and Six Sigma, used consistently in businesses in the United States and Western Europe, are taking a firm hold in Central Eastern Europe, in both local and global companies.

Dedicated to the common problems of efficiency, value for money, and the customer, methodologies such as lean, Six Sigma, and business process excellence have become synonyms for success in business. Jobs with previously unseen titles such as Master Black Belt and sensei are becoming more common in the business classifieds across Central Eastern Europe. Entire departments are being given the job of getting businesses “in shape” for the economy. Companies are also starting to see the value of sharing these successes with one another, and November will see the first lean Six Sigma event in Eastern Europe. Chaired by Matei, and facilitated by meetings specialist IQPC, the “Process Excellence Regional Forum” is bringing leaders from across the region together in Warsaw, Poland, on Nov. 30.

If the region plans to emulate companies such as GE and Toyota, it is clear that success comes only when there is commitment from the top down. Six Sigma and Process Excellence IQ recently conducted a survey in conjunction with Market Value Solutions, and among the results was a stark discovery. In companies where senior-level commitment was high, 85 percent of their business process excellence projects were successful, but in companies that lacked senior-level commitment, only 22 percent of projects were successful.

It is telling, then, that Central Eastern Europe’s business process excellence leaders are engaged and ready to take the next step to improve their operational and business process performance. Events such as the first Process Excellence Regional Meeting in Poland provide one more piece of compelling evidence.

Six Sigma and Process Excellence IQ (A Division of IQPC) has an established reputation for delivering the highest standard of industry-specific conferences, seminars, and internal training programs as well as tailored and sector-specific online content. Its goal is to keep business executives up to date with industry trends, technological developments, and changes in the regulatory landscape.

For more information, e-mail enquire@iqpc.co.uk or visit www.sixsigmaiq.com.