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Linking practices to results: an analysis toward Lean Six Sigma deployment in the public sector

Fernando Juliani (School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá, Brazil)
Otávio José de Oliveira (School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Guaratinguetá, Brazil)

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma

ISSN: 2040-4166

Article publication date: 8 June 2020

Issue publication date: 20 March 2021

586

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present relationship between operation and management practices analyzing the results achieved by both public organizations prone to deploy Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and public organizations that have already implemented the method. The goal is to support the start of method deployment by public managers and the creation of more efficient and effective processes in public organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of synergies between findings in the multiple case study carried out in Brazilian public organizations from health and education sectors and successful implementations found in the LSS literature is made.

Findings

The fact that this research comprised organizations from different segments allowed good practices and difficulties to be identified in a unique way, adding more value to the research carried out and increasing the potential of support to the public manager. In addition, it was possible to map the most mentioned benefits of LSS deployment in both health and education sectors and link them to systematized LSS practices.

Research limitations/implications

The presenting research should initiate a scientific discussion on public sector areas more prone to LSS and guide researchers in the development of case studies aimed at the application of this method in public organizations in general.

Practical implications

This paper can assist public managers to become aware of the potential of the organization they manage in the adoption of LSS principles and practices enabling a better quality of services provided to citizens.

Originality/value

The finding that public health organizations are more likely to implement LSS principles and practices when compared to public organizations from other segments can guide more in-depth studies that justify why some organizations would be better able to implement the LSS method and others would face more difficulties in a hypothetical deployment.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This project is supported by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (PQ 312894/2017-1). The authors would like to thank CNPq for their support.

Citation

Juliani, F. and de Oliveira, O.J. (2021), "Linking practices to results: an analysis toward Lean Six Sigma deployment in the public sector", International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 293-317. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-02-2020-0017

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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