Can we develop theory around Six Sigma? Should we care? by Suzanne de Treville, Norman M. Edelson, Anilkumar N. Kharkar and Benjamin Avanzi.
An interesting paper exploring what six sigma means and what it mean that what it means depends on who you ask. The ideas explored provide good information for most management improvement programs as most share common tools and concepts but vary significantly between implementations. Why examine the question of six sigma theory?
We suggest that Six Sigma—in (a) recommending behavior and goals and (b) claiming that such behavior and goals will improve performance outcomes—goes beyond describing, classifying, and pure prediction. Six Sigma is playing the role of a theory, and it should be evaluated as such.
