Can the behavioral approach coexist with Six Sigma?
Yes. In fact, this complementary coexistence may be an executive’s best option. Few doubt the effectiveness of incorporating both Six Sigma and behavioral approaches simultaneously to gain the most improvement to the bottom line. However, a company is more likely to enjoy significant benefits without large capital investments when it effects change by focusing on the employees in a given process. The only way to enjoy a sustained change in business practices is to modify employees’ behavior and implement a system to ensure that no one reverts to old habits. When an organization decides to make any significant change to its internal processes, even the initial announcement of the intended change can be unsettling to a workforce comfortable in its current routine. The situation is exacerbated if management fails to communicate its reasons for wanting to implement the change, and fails to demonstrate strong, visible support for it. The behavioral approach not only provides effective commu
