Quality Circle

Quality circle is a tool for peer review in order to implement quality assurance and management in daily practice (Harter, 2004). “It is a small group of employees in the same work-area or doing similar types of works who voluntarily meet regularly for about an hour every week to identify, analyze and resolve works- related problems, leading to improvement in their total performance and enrichment of their work life” (Final, 2012).

Without a doubt, quality circle started in Japan as well just like the other quality related programs. The quality circle programs in the United States and Japan are very similar, but there are important differences as well. The Japanese quality circle programs generally give greater emphasis to statistical quality control. The employees in Japan usually meet on their own time rather that during working hours, and in Japan, the involved employees usually receive a financial bonus from the performance of the organization.

According to Lawler (1985), the quality circle programs in the United States often operate with a parallel organizational structure, were they operate independently in ways different from the parent organization. Quality circles emphasize different group processes. Each member of the circle has new roles and takes people out of their normal work activity. The circle has to report back to the organization with recommendation and results.  

 

Devadasan, S.R., Karthikeyan, M., Kannan, K., Sundararaj, G., & Balamurugan, K. (1999). Financial Accounting System for Quality Circle PRogrammes. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?articleid=882455&show=html

 

Reference

Final Quality Circle (2012). Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/AshwiniSavane

         /final-quality-circle-4

Härter, M., & Tausch, B. (2004). [Goals and reality of quality circles in outpatient care

         in Germany]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, 

         Gesundheitsschutz, 47(2),118-124.

Lawler, E. E. & Mohrman, S. A. (1985). Quality Circle after the Fad. Harvard Business 

         Review. Retrieved from http://hbr.org/1985/01/quality-circles-after-the-fad/ar/1