ERIC Number: ED258340
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1985-Jul
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Quality Circles and Organizational Change in Educational Administration.
Lilly, Edward R.
Quality circles are groups of people performing similar work that meet regularly to improve their work settings. Since the quality circle is a means for organizational change, it is helpful to place the concept within the literature of organizational change in the field of educational administration. With the use of quality circles, change occurs at two stages: (1) in the process of making decisions, and (2) as an outcome of the decisions made. The quality circle concept can be compared to similar change programs, such as autonomous work groups and participative decision-making processes. The role of middle management, individual differences, diffusion, and persistence have emerged as significant issues in organizational change. Problems relating to these issues that surface with quality circles are the individual's decision to participate, problem selection, and the degree of satisfaction for circle members. The use of quality circles in educational administration provides a natural field setting in which the study of group problem-solving may be advanced. The literature on quality circles is sparse, and more investigation and analysis of the concept are warranted if it is to be applied to the field of education. (MD)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Administrators; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A