Quality circle failure and how to avoid it

This paper, which is based on a nationwide postal questionnaire survey and case study work, presents the reasons why quality circles fail. These include rejection of the concept by top management, uncertainties caused by redundancies and company restructuring, labour turnover, lack of cooperation from middle and first line management, failure by circle leaders to find enough time to organise meetings and circles running out of projects to tackle. Opposition from the trade unions is only a minor stumbling block. Adequate facilitation, good circle leadership, continued management support and recognition, maintenance trade union support, and further training over time are the most important company controllable factors which can help to prevent quality circle failure.