title: The case of active and inactive quality circles.
abstract: Active and inactive quality circles (QCs; small groups of employees that solve organizational problems) were studied during the first 3 months (Times 1, 2, and 3) and the last 3 months (Times 4, 5, and 6) of their existence. The results indicated that both active and inactive QCs tended to have more members during the first 3 months than during the last 3 months. Membership in inactive QCs decreased significantly from Time 5 to Time 6, in contrast to membership in active QCs, which did not change during this period, and active QCs tended to have more members than inactive QCs did at Time 6. Thus, a significant decrease in QC membership may forecast disbandment.
authors.affiliation: a Department Of Management and Marketing , Middle Tennessee State University , USA.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Tollison
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Whiteside