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Lean and six sigma – critical success factors revisited

Näslund, Dag LU (2013) In International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences 5(1). p.86-100
Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the critical success factors (CSF) for lean and six sigma and an analysis of these CSF as compared to previously popular change methods. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a literature search and comparative analysis complemented with examples from previous case studies. Findings – With only slight variations, the critical success factors are similar for all the change methods. Furthermore, the critical success factors seem to be relatively constant over time. Another important finding is that the CSF tend to relate more to how an organization approaches the change effort versus change method specific factors. The issues of management support and organizational... (More)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the critical success factors (CSF) for lean and six sigma and an analysis of these CSF as compared to previously popular change methods. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a literature search and comparative analysis complemented with examples from previous case studies. Findings – With only slight variations, the critical success factors are similar for all the change methods. Furthermore, the critical success factors seem to be relatively constant over time. Another important finding is that the CSF tend to relate more to how an organization approaches the change effort versus change method specific factors. The issues of management support and organizational culture are often emphasized as especially critical. The paper highlights and discusses three additional important CSF: strategic alignment, project management and training. Practical implications – The awareness of CSF, in combination with an awareness of similarities between the methods, can potentially guide organizations in implementations of existing change efforts, and also prepare them for the next widely popular change method – when it arrives. Originality/value – The paper presents the comparison of such aspects as goals, approaches, structure and tools and a detailed analysis of critical success factors.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Critical success factors, Lean, Organizational culture, Six Sigma
in
International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences
volume
5
issue
1
pages
15 pages
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
external identifiers
  • scopus:84986172689
ISSN
1756-669X
DOI
10.1108/17566691311316266
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d275e87a-565b-4955-835e-7bbb5505943c
date added to LUP
2019-06-20 15:25:16
date last changed
2022-12-07 22:35:36
@article{d275e87a-565b-4955-835e-7bbb5505943c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the critical success factors (CSF) for lean and six sigma and an analysis of these CSF as compared to previously popular change methods. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a literature search and comparative analysis complemented with examples from previous case studies. Findings – With only slight variations, the critical success factors are similar for all the change methods. Furthermore, the critical success factors seem to be relatively constant over time. Another important finding is that the CSF tend to relate more to how an organization approaches the change effort versus change method specific factors. The issues of management support and organizational culture are often emphasized as especially critical. The paper highlights and discusses three additional important CSF: strategic alignment, project management and training. Practical implications – The awareness of CSF, in combination with an awareness of similarities between the methods, can potentially guide organizations in implementations of existing change efforts, and also prepare them for the next widely popular change method – when it arrives. Originality/value – The paper presents the comparison of such aspects as goals, approaches, structure and tools and a detailed analysis of critical success factors.</p>}},
  author       = {{Näslund, Dag}},
  issn         = {{1756-669X}},
  keywords     = {{Critical success factors; Lean; Organizational culture; Six Sigma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{86--100}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences}},
  title        = {{Lean and six sigma – critical success factors revisited}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17566691311316266}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/17566691311316266}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}