Munchus Iii, George, Employer-Employee Based Quality Circles in Japan: Human Resource Policy Implications for American Firms, Academy of Management review , 8(2), 1983, pp. 255-261
This paper traces the development of the quality circle in Japan with reference to such traditions as permanent employment, nenko (seniority-based compensation), enterprise unionism, and management paternalism.Quality circles are examined as tools for motivating employees, reducing labor turnover, effecting employee "career expansion," and allowing employee participation in job redesign.