Building quality into academic programmes using quality circles

Abstract

The use of teams or quality circles is a relatively new approach to quality improvement in higher education in South Africa. This article describes some of the advantages in using the approach and some of the pitfalls that need to be considered. The debate of the "quality circle life cycle", which culminates in the demise of the tool is addressed. While quality circles in the traditional production environment are likely to self destruct in the long term, by modifying their nature, function and form in an academic environment they can still make a valuable contribution not only to quality improvement, but also staff moral and job satisfaction.


South African Journal of Higher Education Vol.15(1) 2001: 197-204