A SWOT analysis on Six Sigma: some perspectives from leading academics and practitioners

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Six Sigma based on the perspectives of leading academics and practitioners. Design/methodology/approach - The approach taken was to collate opinions from a number of leading academics and practitioners from different countries. It was also important to ensure that all participants in the study had a good knowledge and expertise in the field of Six Sigma. Findings - The key findings are presented in the paper. Research limitations/implications - The viewpoints expressed in the paper are based on leading experts from both academic and industrial communities. Due to limited time constraints, the number of people who participated in the study was relatively small. Originality/value - The paper provides an excellent resource for many researchers and practitioners equally who are engaged in research and applications of the most powerful business process improvement methodology we have witnessed for several years.