Six Sigma has this terrifying thing of not wanting
errors. But if you do innovation the way we do, pure
risk is something you have to be able to admit and
accept. . . . With all these “gate reviews,” Post-it
would have never seen the light. . . . And if Six
Sigma would block a hypothetical new Post-it, then
Six Sigma is not for us. We cannot put ourselves in
a condition to block a future Post-it. Are we crazy?
(divisional director, 3M)