Faced with industrial decline, American managers have begun searching for strategies for increasing productivity. Recent attention has focused on Japanese management practices, particularly on quality circles (QCs). Drawing upon social science research, this article evaluates the assumptions behind QCs implemented in the United States. The authors present a conceptual analysis that indicates possible reasons for the differing rates of success for QCs in Japan and the U.S. The article also makes suggestions for the effective implementation of American QCs.
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