A Test of the Quality Circle Approach to Problem Solving

Sixty employees from a large government installation were surveyed on the question, “How I solve problems and insure quality in my work environment.” Thirty of the participants were active members of Quality Circle (QC) groups, and thirty had never been members. The narrative responses were scored on references to (1) problem avoidance/identification, (2) problem resolution, and (3) individual responsibility/authority. Contrary to expectations, nearly every statistical test showed the QC members to exhibit less problem recognition, less individual initiative, and less willingness to accept authority than those employees who had never joined a QC group. The discussion emphasizes the continuing need for a method of evaluation of the claims of certain organizational development programs.