TY - JOUR
T1 - A multilevel case study critique of six sigma
T2 - Statistical control or strategic change?
AU - McAdam, Rodney
AU - Lafferty, Brendan
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Increasing competitive pressure in all business sectors (e.g. private, public SME) is reflected in the continuing quest for business improvement philosophies and methodologies to address this challenge. Recent developments have included increased organisational and academic interest in the six sigma approach to business improvement. There are many organisational examples (mainly USA and UK based) of large scale improvements in defect and process measures attributed to this approach However, there is a paucity of critical studies on six sigma beyond that of "how to" and that of descriptive accounts, with a focus on measures and results rather than employee involvement and motivation. The aim of this paper is to explore the development of six sigma in a multilevel case analysis, from both a process perspective and a people perspective. The findings show that the case organisation had to widen its conception and application of six sigma to include people and organisational criteria to enable the approach to become embedded in the organisation.
AB - Increasing competitive pressure in all business sectors (e.g. private, public SME) is reflected in the continuing quest for business improvement philosophies and methodologies to address this challenge. Recent developments have included increased organisational and academic interest in the six sigma approach to business improvement. There are many organisational examples (mainly USA and UK based) of large scale improvements in defect and process measures attributed to this approach However, there is a paucity of critical studies on six sigma beyond that of "how to" and that of descriptive accounts, with a focus on measures and results rather than employee involvement and motivation. The aim of this paper is to explore the development of six sigma in a multilevel case analysis, from both a process perspective and a people perspective. The findings show that the case organisation had to widen its conception and application of six sigma to include people and organisational criteria to enable the approach to become embedded in the organisation.
KW - Business enterprise
KW - Business improvement
KW - Private sector organizations
KW - Statistical process control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3042852237&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/01443570410532579
DO - 10.1108/01443570410532579
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:3042852237
VL - 24
SP - 530
EP - 549
JO - International Journal of Operations and Production Management
JF - International Journal of Operations and Production Management
SN - 0144-3577
IS - 5-6
ER -