Can the principles of Six Sigma be profitably applied to any business effort?

A recent article posted on SportsIllustrated.com and printed in January 2008’s Soccer America magazine explains how Lew Wolff and his partners from the management of the Oakland A’s baseball team are using data, science, and objective decision making—what I consider the essence of Six Sigma—to successfully launch the new San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer franchise.

Oakland A’s owners (from left) Mike Crowley and Lew Wolff had a major hand in the new Quakes; Billy Beane (far right) will play a big role. (Image courtesy of Michael Zagaris/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

One of those on the ‘Quakes management team is Billy Beane, the originator and force behind the objective management methods that have led to success with the A’s. Mr. Beane’s ideas are outlined in the popular book Moneyball, where it shows how he uses statistics and y = f(x) + ε thinking to consistently achieve better results with less.

If that isn’t the essence of Six Sigma, I don’t know what is.