scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Journal ArticleDOI

A study into the reasons for process improvement project failures: results from a pilot survey

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present the results of a pilot survey highlighting the most common reasons for process improvement project failures, including resistance to change, lack of commitment and support from top management and incompetent teams.
Abstract: Process improvement initiatives, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, typically have common characteristics that are carried through projects Whilst a project’s performance is an important determinant of the successful implementation of continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, its failure can undermine the impact of any CI initiative on business performance As a result, an understanding of the reasons of process improvement project failures is crucial The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a pilot survey highlighting the most common reasons for process improvement project failures,This paper presents a pilot survey of 42 Brazilian manufacturing specialists who have been involved in process improvement projects The participants of this survey were Six Sigma Master Black Belts, Black Belts, Green Belts and Six Sigma champions from manufacturing companies in Brazil The survey questionnaire was piloted with five experts in the field in order to ensure that the questions were valid and technically sound,The execution of Six Sigma projects in organizations results in a moderate rate of project failures These failures can cost organizations several millions of dollars especially within the context of larger organizations The main reasons for project failure, as cited by the specialists include: resistance to change, lack of commitment and support from top management and incompetent teams,The authors report the findings from a pilot survey having a limited sample size Moreover, the data have been collected from one country and primarily from large manufacturing companies,To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study looking into the reasons for process improvement project failures The authors argue that if the top reasons for such failures are understood, a framework can be developed in the future that can mitigate the chance of project failures during project execution This could potentially lead to significant savings to the bottom-line of many organizations

Content maybe subject to copyright    Report

Citations
More filters
Journal Article
TL;DR: In this article, an integrated view of quality and knowledge using Nonaka's theory of knowledge creation is proposed to illuminate how quality practices can lead to knowledge creation and retention, and the knowledge perspective also provides insight into what it means to effectively deploy quality management practices.
Abstract: Several quality thought leaders have considered the role of knowledge in quality management practices. For example, Deming proposed The Deming System of Profound Knowledge™ that dealt explicitly with knowledge. However, various authors in the quality field diverge considerably when contemplating knowledge. We propose an integrated view of quality and knowledge using Nonaka's theory of knowledge creation. This integrated view helps illuminate how quality practices can lead to knowledge creation and retention. The knowledge perspective also provides insight into what it means to effectively deploy quality management practices. Previous empirical research noted the importance of effective deployment, but provided little insight into what effective deployment means. This research argues that quality management practices create knowledge, which leads to organizational performance. Taking a knowledge-based view (KBV) of the firm provides a deeper understanding of why some organizations are more successful at deploying quality management practices than others.

37 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This analysis is the first of its kind, according to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to classify the influencing factors of LSS implementation into the cause–effect cluster, which makes the complexity of a problem easier in handling and assisting the decision-making.
Abstract: Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is receiving a tremendous attention as a modern process of streaming to improve the organizational ability and customer satisfaction. A successful LSS implementation is influenced by various factors and the execution of all the influencing factors simultaneously is a very difficult task for any organization. From the perspective of limitation of resources, this paper aims to present a basic issue in an LSS implementation of clustering complex and impacting factors into groups to achieve them in a stepwise manner. This paper aims to present a fundamental issue of clustering the complex and impacting factors of an LSS implementation into groups to achieve them stepwise.,A total of 40 relevant influencing factors toward an LSS implementation have been identified from the extensive literature review and duly validated with experts’ opinions. Integrated fuzzy set theory and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach are demonstrated to explore the causal relationships among influencing factors of the LSS implementation. An empirical case analysis of an Indian manufacturing organization is carried out to illustrate the utilization of the proposed model.,The proposed framework effectively finds out the significance of each influencing factor of an LSS implementation and clustered into cause–effect groups. As per the results of the empirical case analysis, ten critical success factors (CSFs) of the LSS implementation are evaluated for the successful LSS implementation. Top management pays more attention to achieve them and implement them in a phase-wise approach under the limitations of accessible resources.,The presented framework provides an effective, precise and systematic decision support tool for recognizing CSFs of the LSS implementation. The organization, decision-makers, industrial practitioners and academic researchers may be able to comprehend the cause–effect relationship of the influencing factors of the LSS implementation. The exploratory nature and the single case study are two major limitations of this analysis. The developed model is heavily dependent on the experts’ opinions; hence, any bias in judgment will influence the final result.,This analysis is the first of its kind of effort, according to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to classify the influencing factors of LSS implementation into the cause–effect cluster. The outcomes of this analysis make the complexity of a problem easier in handling and assisting the decision-making.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed a structured hierarchical interrelationship-based model to evaluate the critical failure factors (CFFs) that affect the sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) framework implementation in a healthcare organization.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to develop a structured hierarchical interrelationship-based model to evaluate the critical failure factors (CFFs) that affect the sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) framework implementation in a healthcare organization. Further, solution approaches have been provided that guide to eliminate them.,The CFFs has been identified through empirical study and clustered into six major categories for their better understanding. The interrelation among CFFs has been developed through total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) and classifies the nature using MICMAC technique. Further, prioritized the CFFs based on its driving and dependents power. The methodology enabled the decision-makers, practitioners to systematically analyze the CFFs and develop a structural model for implementing SLSS in the healthcare environment.,A total of 14 leading CFFs have been identified, and 7-level structured interrelationship-based model has been formed. The experts have provided the solution approach after careful analysis of the developed model. Based on the analysis, it was observed that the significant CFFs affect the deployment of the SLSS framework in healthcare organizations.,The structured model and methodological approach have been tested in a healthcare organization. In the future, the approach can be applied in the different service sectors.,The present study has been conducted in a real-time industrial problem. The practitioners, decision-makers and academicians expressed the usefulness of methodology for understanding the CFFs interrelation and their effect on SLSS implementation. This study also guides decision-makers to systematically tackle related problems.,The development of a structured CFFs based model for SLSS framework implementation using the integrated TISM-MICMAC with a detailed solution approach is a unique effort in a healthcare environment.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors have dealt with the selection of the sustainability-oriented Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) project for the manufacturing industry in the complex decision-making environment.
Abstract: Purpose This paper aims to deal with the selection of the sustainability-oriented Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) project for the manufacturing industry in the complex decision-making environment. Moreover, the study also proposes a GLS implementation framework for improved organizational performance. Design/methodology/approach GLS project selection has been done based on the six sustainability-oriented criteria formed from 17 sub-criteria (found from the literature and developed by authors). The weights of the criteria have been determined through the entropy method. The projects have been ranked based on the criteria through the advanced decision-making approach: grey relation analysis (GRA). The results of the study were validated using best worst method and sensitivity analysis. Findings It has been found that the productivity-related criterion is the most significant among other criteria with entropy weight of 0.2721. GRA has been used in this research work to rank the potential GLS projects in a manufacturing industry based on six sustainability criteria, to select a project that exhibits the maximum potential for sustainable improvement. The machine shop has been found as the most significant GLS project with grey relation grade of 0.4742. Practical implications The present study facilitates practitioners and industrial managers to implement an inclusive GLS approach for improved sustainability dynamics through effective GLS project selection and implementation framework. Originality/value With increased globalized competition in recent times, new projects are being considered as the foundation stone for organizational success. The decision-making becomes quite complex to select an effective project due to the intriguing nature of various criteria, sub-criteria and different aspects of sustainability. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first of its kind that provides ways for the selection of sustainability-oriented GLS projects.

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This is the first attempt in the development of a LSS roadmap that healthcare practitioners can follow to reduce medication errors using LSS methodology and sustaining LSS in their organizations.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to propose a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) roadmap to guide healthcare practitioners in the implementation of LSS along with a customized LSS tool kit for reducing medication errors. The authors initially critically reviewed several frameworks/roadmaps of Lean, Six Sigma and LSS which have been proposed in healthcare sector from the existing literature. This review has led to an understanding of key characteristics, limitations, and reasons behind the development of such frameworks/roadmaps. A conceptual roadmap was developed and then validated by a number of LSS experts and a healthcare practitioner. Based on the previous studies and taking LSS experts’ opinions into account, a revised roadmap for reducing medication is presented. The roadmap for LSS in reducing medication errors is developed. This roadmap includes three phases: Phase 1 cultural readiness for LSS employment in reducing medication errors; Phase 2 preparation, initialization and implementation, and Phase 3 sustainability. The roadmap has been tested with only a handful of practitioners of LSS. Moreover, only two case studies have been carried out in a Thai hospital setting which followed the roadmap. In order to improve the validity of research, more case studies need to be executed and more people should be used for testing the roadmap with varied cultures. This is the first attempt in the development of a LSS roadmap that healthcare practitioners can follow to reduce medication errors using LSS methodology and sustaining LSS in their organizations.

16 citations

References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a general formula (α) of which a special case is the Kuder-Richardson coefficient of equivalence is shown to be the mean of all split-half coefficients resulting from different splittings of a test, therefore an estimate of the correlation between two random samples of items from a universe of items like those in the test.
Abstract: A general formula (α) of which a special case is the Kuder-Richardson coefficient of equivalence is shown to be the mean of all split-half coefficients resulting from different splittings of a test. α is therefore an estimate of the correlation between two random samples of items from a universe of items like those in the test. α is found to be an appropriate index of equivalence and, except for very short tests, of the first-factor concentration in the test. Tests divisible into distinct subtests should be so divided before using the formula. The index $$\bar r_{ij} $$ , derived from α, is shown to be an index of inter-item homogeneity. Comparison is made to the Guttman and Loevinger approaches. Parallel split coefficients are shown to be unnecessary for tests of common types. In designing tests, maximum interpretability of scores is obtained by increasing the first-factor concentration in any separately-scored subtest and avoiding substantial group-factor clusters within a subtest. Scalability is not a requisite.

37,235 citations

Book
01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: The Second Edition of this practical guide to partial least squares structural equation modeling is designed to be easily understood by those with limited statistical and mathematical training who want to pursue research opportunities in new ways.
Abstract: With applications using SmartPLS (www.smartpls.com)—the primary software used in partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)—this practical guide provides concise instructions on how to use this evolving statistical technique to conduct research and obtain solutions. Featuring the latest research, new examples, and expanded discussions throughout, the Second Edition is designed to be easily understood by those with limited statistical and mathematical training who want to pursue research opportunities in new ways.

13,621 citations


"A study into the reasons for proces..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ..., 2015), which is a scale widely used in survey research (Flynn et al., 1990; Hair et al., 2014)....

    [...]

  • ...It is recommended that for the development of new measures (exploratory studies), a threshold value > 0.6 is acceptable, while in more advanced stages of research, values > 0.70 can be regarded as satisfactory (Hair et al. 2014; Nunally and Bernstein, 1994)....

    [...]

  • ...The construct with the lowest value was 0.72, Therefore, it is fair to conclude that the constructs used in this study are reliable, according to Hair et al. (2014), Cronbach (1951) and Nunally and Bernstein (1994)....

    [...]

  • ...Several studies on continuous improvement initiatives also used the Likert scale (e.g. Antony and Fergusson, 2004; Flynn et al., 1990; Hagen, 2010; Netland, 2016, Sin et al., 2015), which is a scale widely used in survey research (Flynn et al., 1990; Hair et al., 2014)....

    [...]

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the need for more research in operations management which is based on data from the real world, and provide a starting point that encourages operations management researchers to use empirical data and provides a systematic approach for conducting empirical studies.

1,545 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper provides guidelines for the design and execution of survey research in operations management, presenting a systematic picture which synthesises suitable survey practices for research in an OM context.
Abstract: This paper provides guidelines for the design and execution of survey research in operations management (OM). The specific requirements of survey research aimed at gathering and analysing data for theory testing are contrasted with other types of survey research. The focus is motivated by the need to tackle the various issues which arise in the process of survey research. The paper does not intend to be exhaustive: its aim is to guide the researcher, presenting a systematic picture which synthesises suitable survey practices for research in an OM context. The fundamental aim is to contribute to an increase in the quality of OM research and, as a consequence, to the status of the OM discipline among the scientific community.

1,322 citations

Trending Questions (3)
Why do process improvement projects fail in organizations? A review and future research agenda?

Process improvement projects fail due to reasons like resistance to change, lack of top management support, and incompetent teams. Future research should focus on developing frameworks to mitigate these failures.

Why does projects fail?

Projects fail due to reasons like resistance to change, lack of top management support, and incompetent teams, as highlighted in the pilot survey among Brazilian manufacturing specialists.

Findings from pilot study survey in management research?

The findings from the pilot study survey in management research are not mentioned in the provided paper.