Title: The emergence and evolution of Six Sigma as a management concept: a historical re-examination

Authors: Dag Øivind Madsen

Addresses: School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bredalsveien 11, 3511 Hønefoss, Norway

Abstract: There is a large body of literature on Six Sigma, which is a management concept that was introduced during the 1980s as an approach to reducing defects and errors. In the existing literature, there are conflicting views on Six Sigma's evolution and development. While there is a consensus that Six Sigma was one of the biggest management fashions of the 1980s and 1990s, there is disagreement about whether Six Sigma should be considered a short-lived management fad or whether it represents a lasting trend in management practice. This paper attempts to reconcile different perspectives and viewpoints in the literature and provide an up-to-date status report on Six Sigma, considering the latest developments in theory and practice. This allows for a more balanced account of the concept's historical and current status.

Keywords: Six Sigma; management concept; diffusion; management fashion; evolution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2024.136470

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2024 Vol.16 No.3, pp.318 - 349

Received: 19 Oct 2022
Accepted: 21 Oct 2022
Published online: 02 Feb 2024 *

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