Empowering Educational Management: Teachers’ Insights into School Principals’ Use of Six-Sigma Methodology

Background/purpose. This study aims to identify strengths and areas for improvement in educational management by assessing the extent to which Jordanian school principals in Mafraq apply the Six Sigma (SS) methodology. The research addresses the need to understand how effectively SS principles are being implemented to enhance school management processes, focusing on teachers' perceptions.

Materials/methods. A convenient sample of 383 teachers participated in the study. A survey comprising 36 items was used, distributed across five main domains: the Identification domain, the Measurement domain, the Analysis domain, the Improvement domain, and the Control domain. The survey data were analyzed to evaluate the extent of SS application and the impact of demographic variables such as gender, academic qualifications, and years of experience.

Results. The findings indicate that teachers perceived a moderate application of SS methodology among school principals. Among the five domains, the Improvement domain ranked highest, while the Control domain ranked lowest, revealing a gap in understanding the importance of post-process control measures. Statistically significant differences in perceptions were observed based on gender, academic qualifications, and years of experience.

Conclusion. The study concludes that SS methodology is moderately applied by Jordanian school principals. It recommends that we encourage training teachers and school principals on Six Sigma methodology and how to apply it in an educational setting.

Keywords: Six Sigma methodology, school principals, school management, Jordan

References

Abu-Salem, F. K. (2008). The reality of cooperation between school management and English language supervisors in developing their teachers’ performance and the means to activate it. (dissertation). Islamic University, Gaza. https://search.emarefa.net

Adas, A. (1999). Essentials of Educational Research (3rd ed.). Amman, Jordan: Al-Furqan Publishing.

Ahmed, A. M., Elansary, M. S., & Mashaan, S. M. (2022). Implementation of the Six Sigma methodology in the educational process. Journal of Educational Sciences, 1(50), 78–108. https://doi.org/https://maeq.journals.ekb.eg/article_220247_416e20494f7b5988a45872b8e160a281.pdf

Al-Arifan, A. (2021). The Reality of the Readiness of Kuwaiti Educational Institutions to Use the Six Sigma Methodology for Comprehensive Quality from the Point of View of Their School Principals, 37(2), 332–354. https://doi.org/https://mfes.journals.ekb.eg/article_154287_2c309b774a36 9c7022d943e2da32a0e5.pdf

Al-Badawi, M. (2021). Developing administrative practices for academic leaders according to the six-sigma methodology from the point of view of department heads : an applied study in the accredited faculties of Alexandria University. Journal of Education of Sohag University, 2(82), 624–718. https://doi.org/https://edusohag.journals.ekb.eg/article_137589_fedb78ff9cb156080fc80fa988084905.pdf

Al-Barbari, M. A., AbdelAzim, H. Z., & Al-Azzazi, A. A.-R. (2019). The practices of university leaders in implementing Six Sigma in some American universities and the possibility of benefiting from it in Egyptian universities: a field study. Journal of Faculty of Education, 30(118), 415–442. https://doi.org/https://jfeb.journals.ekb.eg/article_61182_232711b2b48acb2a68b96190adef1fcc.pdf

Al-Dahish, K., Al-Dahish, A. R., & Radwan, S. (2006). Educational administration and planning... theoretical foundations and practical applications. Al-Rashed Library Publishers. https://aljameah.com

Al-Dehani, S. (2010). The possibility of applying Six Sigma principles and their obstacles in school administration in schools in the State of Kuwait. Journal of Education, 24(96), 15–69. https://doi.org/10.34120/joe.v24i96.2057

Alessandro, Laureani & Jiju, Antony (2017) Leadership and Lean Six Sigma: a systematic literature review. Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, pp 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2017.1288565

Al-Harbi, K. G. (2021). Educational leadership styles for leaders and their impact on the job performance of teachers in public education schools in Medina. International Journal of Educational and Psychological Sciences, 69(1), 11–85. https://doi.org/https://ijeps.journals.ekb.eg/article_240734_081958c73dbbbcb387c6827c720c4cb6.pdf

Al-Hassan, M. (2014). The possibility of applying Six Sigma mechanisms to evaluate and develop the quality of educational leadership in educational supervision in Al-Ahsa Governorate (Benin). Journal of Educational Sciences, 25(99), 343–391. https://search.emarefa.net

Al-Hawamdeh, R. F., & Al-Sharman, M. M. (2017). The possibility of applying Six Sigma approaches in school administration in Jerash governorate from the perspective of educational principals and supervisors. The Islamic University Journal of Educational and Psychology Studies, 26(4), 698–717. http://search.shamaa.org.

Al- Khelaiwi, L. S. (2023). A Proposed Methodology of Six Sigma for Enhancing the Administrative Performance of Employees in the Planning and Development Agency at the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Educational Sciences, 48(198). https://doi.org/https://jsrep.journals.ekb.eg/article_294046_bb2eb2e726fe5f8a7683a01360d0bc28.pdf

Al-Otaibi, A. G. (2017). Requirements of Six Sigma entry application to improve performance quality at Shaqra University. Studies and Educational Sciences, 44(4), 277–297. https://doi.org//archives.ju.edu.jo/index.php /edu/article/view/11187/8421

Al-Saeed, S. (2017). Six Sigma as an Approach to the Quality Achievement in Some of the Egyptian Higher Education Institutions: A Field Study. Journal of Education, 49(2), 11–94. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.12816/0043130

Al-Samawi, A. R., & Al-Sarrab, N. (2018). A proposed vision of mechanisms for applying the Six Sigma approach to improve the quality of administrative performance in educational institutions Higher education in the Republic of Yemen. Al-Saeed Journal of Humanities and Applied Sciences, 2(1), 5–25. https://doi.org/https://alsaeeduni.edu.ye/images /magazine/3/R1.pdf

Al-Shaman, A. (2005). Application of Six Sigma in the educational field. Journal of King Saud’s University, 18(1), 89–136. https://jes.ksu.edu.sa

Alsueud, R. (2013). Educational leadership concepts and prospects. Dar Safaa for Publishing and Distribution. https://www.neelwafurat.com

Alwarsh, A. A. (2022). Lean six-sigma leadership in higher education. ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Bowling Green State University. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2773882340

Anand, G. (2006). Continuous improvement and operation strategy: Focus on Six Sigma programs (dissertation), The Ohio State University. https://www.coursehero.com/file/30967886/Continuous-improvement-and-operations-stpdf/

Awad, H. (2020). Requirements for applying the Six Sigma method to develop administrative work in kindergarten. Journal of Childhood and Education, 1(41), 341–374. https://doi.org/https://journals.ekb.eg/article_174057_83b99c7798d2 0b36fb109836f8e17d47.pdf

Brits, H. J. (2018). A quest for waste reduction at institutions of Higher Learning: Investigating the integration of Six Sigma and lean Six Sigma methodologies with Total Quality Management. South African Journal of Higher Education, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.20853/32-4-2582

George, M. L. (2005). Lean six sigma: Combining Six sigma quality with Lean Speed. McGraw-Hill. https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/579945

Halqan, A. A., & Abdel-Aziz, A. (2014). Application Requirements of Six Sigma Methodology to Improve Performance of Administrative Apparatusat Hafr Albatin Faculty. Journal of Education, 1(38), 373–446. https://doi.org/https://edusohag.journals.ekb.eg/article_127680_cc1d0122f99b3 3254ebe53c758490dd2.pdf

Hassan, M. (2017). Towards improving the quality of operations in higher education institutions under the six-step methodology. Studies Economic Issue, 8(2), 181–196. https://doi.org/https://www.asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/90454

Ibrahim, I. M. (2016). Developing the administration of middle schools in the State of Kuwait from the perspective of educational quality standards. Al Azhar University, 35(170), 799–848. https://doi.org/https://jsrep.journals.ekb.eg/article_34017_e471eee2010e37e298885c5c9a6c775f.pdf

Jenicke, L. O., Kumar, A., & Holmes, M. C. (2008). A framework for applying Six Sigma improvement methodology in an academic environment. The TQM Journal, 20(5), 453–462. https://doi.org/10.1108/17542730810898421

Jordanian Ministry of Education. (2023). The Statistical Report for the Academic Year 2022-2023. https://moe.gov.jo/sites/default/files/tqryr_hsyy_2022-2023_nhyy.pdf

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000

Kremcheeva, D.. Kremcheev, E. (2019). Implementation of the Six Sigma method in the educational process, Journal of Physics Conference Series 1384(1):012022. http://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1384/1/012022

Nadeau, S. (2017). Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma in higher education: A review of experiences around the world. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 07(05), 591–603. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2017.75044

Oteer, R. (2018). The Extent of Using Six Sigma Concepts DMAIC Model in the Development of Educational Administrative Processes. Jordanian Journal of Educational Sciences, 14(1), 85–98. https://doi.org/https://journals.yu.edu.jo/jjes/Issues /2018/Vol14No1/7.pdf

Park, S. H. (2003). Six Sigma for Quality and Productivity Promotion, Published by the Asian Productivity Organization, Tokyo, Japan. https://reader.1lib.sk/read/597e955c5a86ed8935307a96659afc53f7a187fa7731ad98c0d1e2ecd76be0c0/683509/a4fe47/six-sigma-for-quality-and-productivity-promotion.html

Ramasubramanian, P. (2012). Six Sigma in Educational Institutions. International Journal of Engineering Practical Research, 1(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/ia800308.us.archive.org

Reosekar, R. S., & Junnarkar, N. D. (2011). Quality Improvement through Systematic Approach-Six Sigma. Journal of Engineering Education Transformations, 24(3), 1–7. 10.16920/jeet/2011/v24i3/113457

Sabtu, S. H., Effendi, M., & Matore, E. M. (2024). Systematic literature review on the implementation of the Six Sigma approach in education. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE) 13(1),‏ 262-270. http://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i1.26196

Shoeibi, M., & Zahmatdoost, E. (2015). The role of Six Sigma in improving the quality of higher education institutions. Financial & Business Management (IFBM), 3(6), 93–98. (4) (PDF) The Role of Six Sigma in Improving the Quality of Higher Education Institutions (researchgate.net)

Simons, N. (2013). The Business Case for Lean Six Sigma in Higher Education. ASQ Higher Education Brief, 6(3), 1–6. https://doi.org/https://docplayer.net/8474716-The-business-case-for-lean-six-sigma-in-higher-education.html

Susilana, R. (2013). Development of Quality Assurance System in Culture and Nation Character Education in Primary Education in Indonesia. The Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Science, 1(2), 17–24. https://doi.org/https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1086212.pdf

Tan, O.K., Lim, P.J., Lim, K.Y., Ong, C.H., Goh, C.F., & Kadir, B. (2021). Critical success factors for Lean Six Sigma in business school: A view from the lecturers. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE).), 11( 1). pp 280-289. http://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i1.21813

Tawfiq, S., & Abdul Muttalib, A. (2019). The future of STEM schools from the perspective of Six Sigma and the scenario approach. Journal of Faculty of Education, 30(118), 1–88. https://doi.org/https://jfeb.journals.ekb.eg/article_61135_1e8cd0dd601a2e95507ee0d0be44c2c8.pdf

Vijaya Sunder, M. (2016). Lean Six Sigma in higher education institutions. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, 8(2), 159–178. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijqss-04-2015-0043

Announcement

EDUPIJ Citation Metrics

EDUPIJ News!

► Educational Process International Journal has changed to publish in article number order instead of in page range order beginning with Volume 14 (2025).