CAN QUALITY CIRCLES BE APPLIED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR?

MICHAEL T. BOYCE

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DOI: 10.2190/U99L-MMDE-JYTF-D9HJ

Abstract

One of the common techniques of Japanese management being adopted by American businesses in order to boost productivity is the Quality Circle. Although the Circle is probably thought of as a tool applicable solely to blue-collar factory situations, it is my thesis that it can be applied in many government operations. Various service industries have successfully used the Quality Circle, and there is no reason why government should not also be able to use it. The various concepts behind the circles (e.g., building employee trust and loyalty; educating employees) and the various rewards and benefits cited (e.g., improved productivity; increased employee morale; increased labor-management cooperation) are all items that the public personnel administrator is interested in, i.e., they are all things that are common to good management.

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