Six Sigma and leadership: some observations and agenda for future research

Purpose – Leadership has for a long time been a topic that attracts the attention of both academics and practitioners. In spite of the extensive literature on leadership and very little literature on leadership in Six Sigma, there is almost a complete absence to explain how and what leadership characteristics are needed for successful implementation of Six Sigma initiatives. This paper aims to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – This research adopts a triangulation method, however for the purpose of this paper; the focus is on a thorough review of literature. Findings – From an exhaustive literature review, this research has made some observations and developed an agenda for research. This is presented in the form of an integrated leader, leadership and Six Sigma framework in addressing organisation sustainability issues. Originality/value – The developed integrated framework for the successful deployment of Six Sigma contributes to knowledge which is underpinned by robust literature review.