Table 6. Theme 4: Challenges of... | Emerald Publishing

Table 6.

Theme 4: Challenges of implementing LSS in SMEs

Subtheme	Example codes	Representative quotes
Resistance to change	Slow adoption; hesitation; need for leadership support	“You have to convince those at the top that these tools are necessary and you have to explain them in a way that frontline staff can understand and find value in using them regularly” - E
Resource constraints	Limited budget; limited staff time; competing priorities	“If money is no object, hiring somebody to come in and handle the program is outstanding, but that’s usually not realistic”- B
Training and education gaps	Lack of LSS awareness; need for trained personnel	“There are a number of challenges, I think just from a standpoint of education… a lot of people really don’t know what it is” - N
Organizational barriers	Competing responsibilities; lack of structure; capability limitations	“I think the biggest challenge is having the expertise of somebody that can implement the Lean 6 Sigma toolset” - Q

Subtheme	Example codes	Representative quotes
Resistance to change	Slow adoption; hesitation; need for leadership support	“You have to convince those at the top that these tools are necessary and you have to explain them in a way that frontline staff can understand and find value in using them regularly” - E
Resource constraints	Limited budget; limited staff time; competing priorities	“If money is no object, hiring somebody to come in and handle the program is outstanding, but that’s usually not realistic”- B
Training and education gaps	Lack of LSS awareness; need for trained personnel	“There are a number of challenges, I think just from a standpoint of education… a lot of people really don’t know what it is” - N
Organizational barriers	Competing responsibilities; lack of structure; capability limitations	“I think the biggest challenge is having the expertise of somebody that can implement the Lean 6 Sigma toolset” - Q

Source(s): Authors’ own work