English: Every project is implemented under three constraints, scope, costs and schedule. The diagram shows quality as the fourth constraint or as a result of the three aforementioned constraints Project Management (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Quality Circles — small groups of employees who meet frequently to help resolve company quality problems and provide recommendations to managers.

Meet frequently either at someone’s house or at the plant before work begins.

Identifies problems, analyzes data, recommends solutions and carries on management-approved changes.

Success heavily dependent on management’s willingness to listen to employee recommendations.

Key elements of quality circles:

• Team effort.

• Completely voluntary.

• Trained in group dynamics, motivation, communications and problem solving.

• Rely upon each other.

• Management support active but as needed.

• Creativity encouraged.

• Management listens.

Benefits of quality circles:

• Improved quality of products and services.

• Better organizational communications

• Improved worker performance.

• Improved morale.

Source: Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling and Controlling by Harold R Kerzner (11^th edition).