The productivity of 47 quality circles (QCs) over a 3-year period was examined using the archival data of a QC program. The dependent variables were the quantity of QC presentations and the speed of problem solving. These two dependent variables were examined as related to upper-management attendance (high vs. low), QC initiation (management-initiated vs. self-initiated), and collar color (white vs. blue) in a 2 x 2 x 2 MANOVA. The results showed that QCs with a high level of upper-management attendance solved their problems significantly faster than did those QCs with a low level of attendance. Management-initiated QCs solved their problems significantly faster and solved more problems than did self-initiated QCs. Self-initiated QCs with a low level of upper-management attendance had a slower speed ofproblem solving. Further, self-initiated QCs with white-collar workers also had a slower speed of problem solving.
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