Twenty months into the quality circle program-was it worth it?

There has been a steady growth in quality circles (QCs) in Bellcore due to the benefits that they can bring to an organization. The author provides a management perspective of QCs based on twenty months´ experience in setting them up, watching them grow, and realizing benefits. Despite the unique nature of each organization, the author describes the general success criteria for starting and sustaining a good QC program, and identifies benefits that QCs can bring to an organization which enable the organization to become more competitive. He highlights participants´ feedback and discusses the lessons learned. In addition he examines the attitude change required on the part of management and nonmanagement people in order to ensure a successful QC program