A successful Six Sigma process improvement initiative is not a program or a set of tools. It is a cultural shift. In other words, Six Sigma changes the way a business manages itself. This is a shift away from decisions based solely upon “tribal knowledge” (gut feeling, we have always done it this way, etc.), to decisions based on data and business acumen. When the data is customer focused, improvement projects align corporate strategies with customer expectations in a way that produces a positive financial impact. It is important to understand that data, “tribal knowledge”, and business acumen are all required for high quality decision making.