Six Sigma a Goal-Theoretic Perspective
Journal of Operations Management 21 (2003) 193–203
Six Sigma: a goal-theoretic perspective
Kevin Linderman∗ , Roger G. Schroeder1 , Srilata Zaheer2 , Adrian S. Choo3
Curtis L. Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, 3-150 CarlSMgmt Building, 32-19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA Received 18 April 2001; accepted 2 May 2002
Abstract Six Sigma is a phenomenon that is gaining wide acceptance in industry, but lacks a theoretical underpinning and a basis for research other than “best practice” studies. Rigorous academic research of Six Sigma requires the formulation and identification of useful theories related to the phenomenon. Accordingly, this paper develops an understanding of the Six Sigma phenomena from a goal theoretic perspective. After reviewing the goal theory literature, these concepts, when applied to Six Sigma, suggest some propositions for future research. This paper can help serve as a foundation for developing scientific knowledge about Six Sigma. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Quality; Theory; Interdisciplinary; Goals; Six Sigma
1. Introduction The implications of Six Sigma in industry are profound. For example, in 1999 General Electric Company (GEC, 1999) spent over half a billion in Six Sigma initiatives and received over two billion in benefits for the fiscal year (Pande et al., 2000). While Six Sigma has made a big impact on industry, the academic community lags behind in its understanding of Six Sigma. In one of the few academic papers, Schroeder (2000) provides a definition of Six Sigma and discusses the importance of academic research in this area. The question remains: what should aca∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-612-626-8632. E-mail addresses: klinderman@csom.umn.edu (K. Linderman), rschroeder@csom.umn.edu (R.G. Schroeder), szaheer@csom.umn.edu (S. Zaheer), achoo@csom.umn.edu (A.S. Choo). 1 Tel.: +1-612-624-9544. 2 Tel.: +1-612-624-5590. 3 Tel.: +1-612-626-9723.
demics
Six Sigma: a goal-theoretic perspective
Kevin Linderman∗ , Roger G. Schroeder1 , Srilata Zaheer2 , Adrian S. Choo3
Curtis L. Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, 3-150 CarlSMgmt Building, 32-19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA Received 18 April 2001; accepted 2 May 2002
Abstract Six Sigma is a phenomenon that is gaining wide acceptance in industry, but lacks a theoretical underpinning and a basis for research other than “best practice” studies. Rigorous academic research of Six Sigma requires the formulation and identification of useful theories related to the phenomenon. Accordingly, this paper develops an understanding of the Six Sigma phenomena from a goal theoretic perspective. After reviewing the goal theory literature, these concepts, when applied to Six Sigma, suggest some propositions for future research. This paper can help serve as a foundation for developing scientific knowledge about Six Sigma. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Quality; Theory; Interdisciplinary; Goals; Six Sigma
1. Introduction The implications of Six Sigma in industry are profound. For example, in 1999 General Electric Company (GEC, 1999) spent over half a billion in Six Sigma initiatives and received over two billion in benefits for the fiscal year (Pande et al., 2000). While Six Sigma has made a big impact on industry, the academic community lags behind in its understanding of Six Sigma. In one of the few academic papers, Schroeder (2000) provides a definition of Six Sigma and discusses the importance of academic research in this area. The question remains: what should aca∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-612-626-8632. E-mail addresses: klinderman@csom.umn.edu (K. Linderman), rschroeder@csom.umn.edu (R.G. Schroeder), szaheer@csom.umn.edu (S. Zaheer), achoo@csom.umn.edu (A.S. Choo). 1 Tel.: +1-612-624-9544. 2 Tel.: +1-612-624-5590. 3 Tel.: +1-612-626-9723.
demics
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