IMPLEMENTATION, PROBLEMS, SUCCESS AND LONGEVITY OF QUALITY CIRCLE PROGRAMS - A STUDY OF 95 UK ORGANIZATIONS

One problem in studying quality circles (QCs) is the shortage of objec tive measures of success. Another is the fact that many previous studi es have been longitudinal but based on only one site. Presents results of a large sample of over 5,000 QCs which capture some longitudinal a spects of quality circle development and relate them to several object ive and subjective measures of success. Contrary to previous small, lo ngitudinal studies which have been reported in the literature, this st udy found no evidence at the level of organizational QC programmes to support the role of top and middle management in QC success, except fo r the need for management representation on steering committees. Data suggest that organizations with TQM have more successful QC programmes and (weakly) that older QC programmes are more successful.