Productivity improvement is a national priority in the 1980's. The dramatic spread of quality circles (QCs) demonstrates that they are perhaps the most popular technique to achieve this goal. There are, however, few systematic studies of these programs. It is important, therefore, not to draw sweeping, premature, and possibly erroneous conclusions based on uncritical acceptance of claims made by QC advocates and critics. This analysis adds to the limited data base on quality circles by exploring their use in Florida government. Placing Florida in the context of national developments, it examines the QC form, problems encountered with it, and approaches used to address these difficulties. This is followed by an analysis of QCs in the state's public sector. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of the findings for current and future QC programs.
Cohesiveness in promise problems
