Applying six sigma principles to business strategy implementation

Abstract

Purpose The study examines the question, if the business process excellence methodology Six Sigma can be applied to enhance business strategy implementations. Design and methodology Through a literature review on strategy implementation, on Six Sigma as well as on the combination of both, a survey amongst managers and decision makers engaged in strategy implementations and a semi-structured focus group interview with experts in both fields yield the necessary literature background and the empirical data for this research. Findings Six Sigma can be directly applied in the strategy implementation process to enhance the handling of strategy implementation success factors. Six Sigma can indirectly be a means for a better achievement of strategic goals and for better strategy implementations respectively as organizations, which use Six Sigma as a process management and improvement methodology or moreover as a management philosophy, are able to implement new strategies more successfully, efficiently and faster. Implications and research limitations The findings of this study can help companies to improve on their strategy implementation efforts as the results offer a new approach through the application of Six Sigma. In order to extend the validity of this research the research population can be extended in terms of quantity, geographical aspects as well as industry sectors. Keywords Strategy implementation, Six Sigma, Strategy implementation success rates, Strategy implementation success factors, Application of Six Sigma to strategy implementation