Going in Circles with Quality Circles?—Management Development Implications

Abstract

IBM, General Motors, RCA, Westinghouse, Control Data, Union Carbide, Tektronics, Lockheed, Northrup Aircraft, Babcock and Wilcox, Waters Associates, Solar Turbines, and American Express are operating effective quality circle efforts. Companies like Motorola, Champion International, TRW, and others use different forms of team building that are closely related to the quality circle concept. As a result, the print and electronic media are creating waves of favourable publicity about the idea. These “success stories” are leading a number of executives to consider quality circles for their company. Unfortunately, publicity releases and press reports seldom alert top management to potential problems.