Impact of quality circles on productivity and quality: research limitations of a field experiment

A natural field experiment was used in an attempt to measure the impact of a quality circle intervention on productivity and quality in a multiplant food manufacturing firm. The study used a multiple time-series design for the analysis of performance indices spanning 23 months. Uncontrollable factors at the site demonstrated the pitfalls of evaluating a managerial intervention and its impact on the performance of the organization. The results were inconclusive but do illustrate the hazards in field research.<>