The academic pattern of the Lean Six Sigma approach: a descriptive content analysis of project-based studies within Turkey

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present the academic pattern of project-based studies on the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) approach in a comparative manner in the context of Turkey. Design/methodology/approach Focusing on the context of Turkey, a detailed search was conducted at the National Thesis Center of Turkey, and on Google Scholar between November 28 and December 15, 2021, using the keywords “Lean Six Sigma” and “Lean 6 Sigma” in both Turkish and English. As a result of this search, no conference proceedings on the subject were found. However, 25 postgraduate theses and 19 articles were accessed. It was determined that ten of the 19 articles were produced from these theses. It was observed that nine of the 25 postgraduate theses contained conceptual analyses. At this point, it was concluded that the project-based theses conducted in the context of Turkey provided the necessary representation on the subject. Therefore, the 16 postgraduate theses that had been accessed constituted the sample of the study. These 16 theses were subjected to a comprehensive evaluation with the systematic analysis design, with descriptive content analysis being used as the data analysis tool of the research. In this context, the theses were examined using parameters such as type, number, year, university, institute, department, discipline, original language and title of advisor. Other parameters used were purpose, industry, duration, team, results, tools and techniques of the LSS projects mentioned in the theses. Findings It was determined that the number of postgraduate theses on LSS was low in number, with only one study having been performed at the doctoral level, and most studies having been produced in 2019. In addition, it was observed that the subject had been studied by different universities, institutes, disciplines and departments with the LSS spreading to different academic disciplines. Most of the relevant theses were written in Turkish, and it has been determined that these theses were mostly carried out under the supervision of academicians with the title of assistant professor. It was also found that the purposes of the theses, the tools used throughout the process and the results obtained were per the LSS spirit. On the other hand, it was determined that the duration of the project and the composition of the team members would vary due to the diversity of features that make the internal dynamics of the projects clear. Originality/value The research revealed the academic pattern of the project-based studies on the LSS in the Turkish context. The use of systematic review design and descriptive content analysis as data analysis tools in the research is an important initiative. While the uniqueness of the studies carried out on such a practical subject cannot be discussed, the holistic approach of these studies increases the contribution value of the research. At this point, this study is considered to be especially valuable for an understanding of LSS research in country-specific conditions. In this aspect, it is an aim of the aforementioned research to become a resource for researchers and practitioners interested in LSS, with this research providing a basis for making contextual comparisons in the future.