Fadotomy – anatomy of the transformation of a fad into a management paradigm

Purpose – To provide a methodology for determining how and when a management fad has become an established paradigm. Design/methodology/approach – The penticulation approach compares the outputs from the five separate research sources of horizontal surveys, experiential rules‐of‐thumb, theoretical models, quick scan audits, and vertical case studies. Findings – The total cycle time compression (TCTC) paradigm is supported both individually and collectively by the five data sources which can be related to Kuhnsian requirements. Research limitations/implications – Penticulation is a unique approach to establishing if a paradigm actually exists. However, this is its first known application. Practical implications – It is manifest that TCTC can be used as both a business process engineering objective, and subsequently as a prime performance metric. Originality/value – The output is twofold. Penticulation is a new approach to paradigm testing, and our understanding of the TCTC principle has been further strengthened.