DB 2 Response
Paul Lindley
Liberty University
BUSI 650
Dr. Kevin Dickenson
February 9, 2015

As Nigel points out Six Sigma is a statistical tool that requires a great deal of training in statistical analysis in order to be effective. This author is a Green Belt with the knowledge of the training this requires. In order to be effective those using Six Sigma must practice their craft on a regular basis in order to be able to lead an effective Six Sigma project. The tools that are used require more than just a basic course on how to use and implement them. As with any process improvement initiative, the way in which it is implemented can either make or break its success. Six Sigma, although brought to the forefront by Motorola, was a conglomeration of many successful tools that were used in the past. The process started with Adam Smith. Smith offered the concept of division of labor by breaking a production process down into the simplest steps and then assigning these individual steps to different worker (Roth, 2013, p. 25). This would become known as a mechanistic thought that would try to quantify everything. Moving from the 1700s to the late 1800s, Frederic Taylor introduced observe, measure, repeat and the scientific method (Roth, 2013, p. 26). Deming then introduced statistical analysis to apply to the production process in the mid 1900s. Later in the 1900s Michael Hammer introduced reengineering to eliminate steps or processes that do not add to the bottom line (Roth, 2013, p. 26). The capstone of all these together was when Motorola introduced Six Sigma to teach improvement tools and techniques and reward learning and new ideas. Six Sigma is an explorative learning approach. An organization must acquire behavioral capacities that are fundamentally different from their existing insights (Sony & Naik, 2012, p. 917). This was the