Measuring Critical Success Factors for Six Sigma in Higher Education Institutions: Development and Validation of a Surveying Instrument

Abstract

Critical success factors are key elements that enable the success of projects. This research work proposes the design and validation of an instrument to evaluate the implementation of six sigma critical success factors during improvement projects in higher education institutions. Eleven critical success factors were selected from the literature on the six sigma methodology, including managerial participation and commitment, six sigma linkage with the institutional strategy, six sigma linkage with suppliers, communication, and team member selection, among others. The instrument was validated among Mexican higher education institutions, from which 743 surveys were collected. Namely, the instrument was administered to experienced improvement project developers. Then, the collected data were analyzed, first by means of an exploratory factor analysis, and later with a confirmatory factor analysis using software program SPSS Amos R. Our results demonstrate that the proposed instrument is statistically valid, so it can be used by higher education institutions to evaluate how Six Sigma critical success factors are handled during improvement projects development. Similarly, the survey can help universities detect areas of opportunity when adopting the six sigma methodology and fit models to evaluate how critical success factors interact among them to achieve the expected results of improvement projects. INDEX TERMS Confirmatory factor analysis, construct validation, higher education, improvement projects, six sigma.

ISO 9001 Standard: Developing and Validating a Survey Instrument

“…, the kurtosis values ranged from -0.948 to 7.423; hence, we confirmed that univariate normality was fulfilled in each variable. As for multivariable normality assumptions, multiple studies recommend Mardia's measure for multivariate kurtosis[61],[62],[72],[73]. Hence, we verified…”

“…In turn, [95] proposed a survey instrument for TQM implementation and highlighted both process management and human resource involvement as the most important CSFs. In their work, Maciel-Monteon et al [62] described how cultural change, top management involvement and commitment, training and education, and linking SS with customers are the CSFs for SS implementation in higher education institutions. Finally, [48] found that employee involvement and management commitment are two of the CSFs for effective implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in SMEs.…”

“…A given set of variables can measure the same construct if the convergent validity between its correlations is at least moderate in magnitude; on the contrary, it is assumed that a set of variables measures different constructs if the discriminant validity in their correlations is not high [70]. Enough convergent validity implies that the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) value in each latent variable is higher than 0.5 [69], whereas enough discriminant validity implies that the AVE values are higher than the squared correlation between dimensions, thus confirming that two constructs are independent from one another [62]. Table 5 lists the AVE values in the main diagonal of the correlation matrix.…”

Lean Manufacturing Critical Success Factors for the Transportation Equipment Manufacturing Industry in Mexico

“…A benefit is associated with a positive action or result that favors people and the organization [56], the benefit of implementing the LM methodology is reflected through a gradual reduction of activities and elements that do not add value to the organization [57].…”

“…The scoring instrument developed in this study uses a five-point Likert scale, representing a range of perception from never (1) to always (5). The use of the five-point Likert scale in this type of operations management study is a popular option to measure latent variables through a set of related elements [72] [56].…”