The Decision To Participate in Quality Circles

Abstract

This article discusses a study of the reasons behind workers' decisions as to whether or not to join quality circles. For this study, a sample consisting of blue-collar employees of an electronics division in a diversified manufacturing firm participated in interviews and completed questionnaires. Items used with the interviews and questionnaires included both openended and closed-choice questions. From the data, the author has found that the desire for greater involvement in the organization and a belief that quality circles will be instrumental in solving problems of quality, productivity, and working conditions relate significantly to one's decision to join a circle. This leads to the conclusion that the goals of employees who become members of quality circles are closer to the those of management than is generally thought.

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