Improvement Insights Blog
Six Sigma Formulas Cause Math Phobias
In the book, The Case Against Education: why the Education System is a Waste of Time and Money, author Bryan Caplan argues that, beyond reading, writing and basic ‘rithmatic, “most of what people learn in high school and college is unnecessary and quickly forgotten.”
I would argue that the same is true of Six Sigma; most of what people learn is unnecessary and quickly forgotten.
Peter Coy’s book review in Bloomberg BusinessWeek (January 22, 2018), states that many students struggle with algebra and drop out. City University of New York colleges are “experimenting with alternatives to conventional math because it’s a ‘killing field’ for many students,” says Chancellor James Milliken.
Again, the same is true of Six Sigma. Math and formulas are a “killing field” for students.
Fortunately, students don’t need to know formulas to do Six Sigma if they have software like QI Macros® to handle calculations for them.
Stop teaching people things they don’t need to know to succeed at Six Sigma. Don’t kill their interest in Six Sigma before it starts.
