In order to get the most from your Lean Six Sigma initiative, you must make it a business strategy and not just another program or flavor of the month. In a business strategy, an infrastructure is created in which improvement projects are tied to strategic business metrics and follow a structured process. Executive support is key.
A Lean Six Sigma program, on the other hand, focuses on the training of Lean and Six Sigma tools and their application. Project selection does not necessary align with the needs of the business. This approach is easier to implement than the business strategy approach, but does not capture the necessary buy-in to reap large bottom-line results.