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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Atkinson, Tim
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 1990
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED362647
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author Atkinson, Tim
author_facet Atkinson, Tim
Atkinson, Tim
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Evaluating Quality Circles in a College of Further Education. Manchester Monographs 31. Atkinson, Tim Adult Education Colleges Educational Change Educational Research Employer Employee Relationship Foreign Countries Participative Decision Making Postsecondary Education Program Development Program Evaluation Program Implementation Quality Circles Quality Control Work Environment Quality circles (QCs) are small volunteer groups of workers who meet weekly with a trained leader operating to a strict code of conduct. They use techniques of brainstorming, cause and effect classification, pareto analysis, and presentation to consider work-related problems and recommend solutions to management. QCs have been tried in educational institutions in North America. Two QC-related experiments in the United Kingdom have distinct differences from the pure model. Accrington and Rossendale College was suffering problems of low morale in a period of rapid change, when QCs offered an opportunity to develop participation. A research project introduced the program to staff at a series of meetings and canvassed their views. Following training of volunteers, four QCs formed among library, technician, administrative, and Business and Management Studies Department teaching staff. Problems considered included overdue library books, insurance, external appearance of the college, and storage space. An evaluation identified a particularly important benefit: the staff development opportunity for support staff. QCs proved valuable in avoiding rushed decision making. The techniques themselves were helpful in other settings. Problems were opposition from middle managers who discouraged staff attendance and opposition from lecturing staff who saw circles as one change too many. (Appendixes include 45 references and a case study of one QC's solution to a problem.) (YLB)
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_ED362647
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 1990
record_format eric
spellingShingle Evaluating Quality Circles in a College of Further Education. Manchester Monographs 31.
Atkinson, Tim
Adult Education
Colleges
Educational Change
Educational Research
Employer Employee Relationship
Foreign Countries
Participative Decision Making
Postsecondary Education
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Program Implementation
Quality Circles
Quality Control
Work Environment
Evaluating Quality Circles in a College of Further Education. Manchester Monographs 31. Atkinson, Tim Adult Education Colleges Educational Change Educational Research Employer Employee Relationship Foreign Countries Participative Decision Making Postsecondary Education Program Development Program Evaluation Program Implementation Quality Circles Quality Control Work Environment Quality circles (QCs) are small volunteer groups of workers who meet weekly with a trained leader operating to a strict code of conduct. They use techniques of brainstorming, cause and effect classification, pareto analysis, and presentation to consider work-related problems and recommend solutions to management. QCs have been tried in educational institutions in North America. Two QC-related experiments in the United Kingdom have distinct differences from the pure model. Accrington and Rossendale College was suffering problems of low morale in a period of rapid change, when QCs offered an opportunity to develop participation. A research project introduced the program to staff at a series of meetings and canvassed their views. Following training of volunteers, four QCs formed among library, technician, administrative, and Business and Management Studies Department teaching staff. Problems considered included overdue library books, insurance, external appearance of the college, and storage space. An evaluation identified a particularly important benefit: the staff development opportunity for support staff. QCs proved valuable in avoiding rushed decision making. The techniques themselves were helpful in other settings. Problems were opposition from middle managers who discouraged staff attendance and opposition from lecturing staff who saw circles as one change too many. (Appendixes include 45 references and a case study of one QC's solution to a problem.) (YLB)
title Evaluating Quality Circles in a College of Further Education. Manchester Monographs 31.
topic Adult Education
Colleges
Educational Change
Educational Research
Employer Employee Relationship
Foreign Countries
Participative Decision Making
Postsecondary Education
Program Development
Program Evaluation
Program Implementation
Quality Circles
Quality Control
Work Environment
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED362647