Group Work Concepts in Germany DevelopmentsDuring the Past Three Decades

Th is chapter presents an overview over the development of group work in Germany and German-speaking countries. First, this chapter describes action theory as a major theor etical contribution relevant for group work . Then practical implications of group work concepts will be discuss ed. These group work concepts implemented in work organizations range from autonomous group work in the seventies and quality circle implementations in the eighties to the adoption of lean production concepts in the nineties. In a concIuding section these various concepts are compared with one another, discussed with respect to action theory and put into an international context.

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