East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works December 1984 An Analysis of the Application of Quality Circles on Education Anthony O Anyaocha East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Educational Administration and Supervision Commons Recommended Citation Anyaocha, Anthony O., "An Analysis of the Application of Quality Circles on Education" (1984) Electronic Theses and Dissertations Paper 2629 https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2629 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University For more information, please contact digilib@etsu.edu INFORM ATION TO U SERS Tliis re p ro d u ctio n was m ade from a 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best available copy has been film ed University Mtatxilms International 300 N m b Read Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 8508769 A n y a o c h a , A n th o n y O m enlhu AN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF QUALITY CIRCLES ON EDUCATION E ast Tennessee S tale Lfa/vere/fy University Microfilms International 300 N Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Ed.D 1984 PLEASE NOTE: (n alt c a s e s this material h a s been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy Problem s encountered with this cu m en t have b een identified here with a check m ark -J Glossy p h o tographs or p a g e s Colored illustrations, p ap er or p rin t P hotographs with dark b a c k g ro u n d Illustrations a re poor c o p y _ P a g e s with black m arks, not original copy _ Print show s through a s th ere is text on both sid e s of p a g e _ Indistinct, broken or small print on several p a g e s Print e x c ee d s m argin req u irem en ts Tightly bound copy with print lost In spine _ _ _ _ _ 10 C om puter printout p a g e s with indistinct print 11 P a g e (s) lacking w hen material received, and not available from school or author 12 P a g e (s) seem to b e missing in num bering only a s text follows 13 Two pages n u m b e re d Text follows 14 Curling and wrinkled p a g e s 15 Other _ n/ University Microfilms International AH ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF QUALITY CIRCLES ON EDUCATION A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Supervision and Administration East Tennessee State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Anthony Omenihu Anyaocha December, 1984 APPROVAL This Is to certl£v that the Graduate Committee of ANTHONY OMENIHU ANYAOCHA met on the 15th day of November , 1984 The committee read and examined his dissertation, supervised his defense of It In an oral examination, and decided to recommend that his study be submitted to the Graduate Council and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education Chairman, Graduate Committee — A_ Q Signed on behalf of the Graduate Council Associate Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies il ABSTRACT AN ANALYSIS OF THE APPLICATION OF QUALITY CIRCLES ON EDUCATION by Anthony Omenihu Anyaocha The purpose of this study was to determine the potential effective ness of implementation of the quality circle concepts and processes to administration of educational systems A list was developed of administrators who were reputed to be competent in quality circle concepts Letters were written to each requesting him/her to participate in a telephone interview Also, each one on the list was asked to respond with a date and a time when the interview could be conducted A list of questions to which answers were desired was included in each letter Answers to the questions in the interview guide were carefully recorded during the telephone Interview Primary and secondary sources were also used to determine the success or failure of quality circles in the United States Major emphasis was placed on the use of quality circles in educational administration In the field of education, it was not easy for educators to use the word "productivity"; however, due to the changing world and the fact that education and industries are somehow similar in terms of Japanese style of management, the term "productivity" can now be used by both organiza tions In the language of educational researchers recorded by Bellanca, the word "productivity" equated with "effectiveness." He pointed out that effective schools were (and still are) those that produced students who had mastered the required knowledge and skill to move to higher education or to work successfully in a trained vacation The effective schooLs, as defined by Harvard's Ron Edmonds, achieved this mastery equally for all students regardless of race, national origin or social class An alternative to American bureaucratic philosophy of management came to the United States from Japan during the decade of the 1970s The philosophy of the Japanese style of management was based upon the use of creativity and talent of others, including the following concepts: (1) Everyone is knowledgeable and wants to share and contribute something; (2) Management does not know all the problems; (3) Management does not know all the answers; (A) The employee has his own way of doing some thing and is closer to the problems; (5) Workers can contribute their ideas for effective problem solving ill The Implementation of these ideas is through the use of quality circles Quality circles are the medium through which workers share management responsibility for locating, analyzing, and solving problems related to their work area A quality circle is composed of six to ten or eight to twelve volunteers who meet with their supervisors every week In this situation the supervisor serves as a circle leader Initially, they receive training in techniques of prohlera solving, data gathering and problem analysis A participative decision making process should be adopted Decision making by consensus was the subject of a great deal of research in Europe and the- United States of America over the past twenty years, and evidence strongly suggested that a consensus approach yielded more promising and incentive decisions and more effective imple mentation than individual decision making iv DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to Peace Uloroa Anyaocha (my dearly beloved wife), who encouraged, motivated and influenced me to achieve this outstanding goal Education should not be regarded as facilities, But rather the people and the programs within and outside those walls One of American philosophies of education is to have a change in character To Peace, with love Anthony v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author acknowledges with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude those Individuals who contributed Immensely toward his achievement of educational goals A special expression of gratitude is expressed to Dr William L Evernden, Committee Chairman, for his understanding, scholarship, financial assistance, guidance, encouragement and his availability for consultation at the crucial time of need The author wishes to thank the following doctoral committee for their endurance, time, and effort in counseling, reading the manuscripts, and their healthy and productive suggestions for this dissertation: Dr William T Acuff, Dr James Howard Bowers, Dr Floyd H Edwards, and Dr Edward J Dwyer A special thanks goes to Dr William T Acuff for his advice and encouragement in suggesting quality circles as the topic of this disser tation The author expresses his sincere gratitude to Dr Charles Burkett, Chairman of Supervision and Administration Department, and his out standing secretary, Ms Sharon Hundley, for their assistance and encouragement during his telephone interview with the representatives of quality circles in various states within the United States of America Special and profound thanks are due to Ms Madeline Jenkins, 9ecretary/typist, for typing and retyping during these trying periods A warm and sincere thanks go to the following children of the author: Chichi Anyaocha (daughter), Ahara Anyaocha, Obi Anyaocha and vi APPENDIX A ADMINISTRATORS, INTERVIEW GUIDE, AND CORRESPONDENCE 91 ADMINISTRATORS Mr Del Anderson Scare Technical Institute Plainwell, MI -49080 Dr, J tferrell Hansen Dixon Junior High School 750 West 200 North Provo, UT 84601 Mr Bill Babington Crystal Lake District #47 Crystal Lake, 1L 60014 Ms Joann Hospod and Ms Lorraine Waldo Windsor Board of Education Windsor, CT 06095 Ms Beth Bandy Illinois State Board of Education Springfield, IL 62706 Ms Jeanne Beck Wheeling District #21 Wheeling, IL 60090 Ms Patricia E llowlett, Editor Association of California School Administrators 1517 L Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Mr James Beilanca Director of Illinois Renewal Institute 500 S Dwyer Arlington [(eights, IL Ms Joanne Hutton Director of Purchasing California State University at Long Beach Long Beach, CA 90840 60005 Ms Ethel Bright University of Kentucky Lexington, KV 40506 Dr Arthur E Jones Superintendent of Schools Forest Park Public Schools 939 Beloit Avenue Forest Park, IL 60130 Ms Elizabeth Coleman Grant Joint District Sacramento, CA 95813 Ms Debra Merlll Utah State Board of Education Salt Lake City, UT 84114 Mr, Tam Collins Brighton Central District #1 Rochester, NY 14610 Dr H Lynn Moretz, Director Central Piedmont Community College P Box 35009 Charlotte, NC 28235 The Director Monographs on Implementing Quality Circles in Educational Setting San Mateo County Office of Education 333 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 Mr Steve Passarell Grant High School 1333 Grand Avenue Sacramento, CA 95838 Mr Robert Gentry Berwyn District #100 Berwyn, IL 60402 Mr Ed Poole Naperville District #203 Naperville, IL 60540 92 Mr Larry Romlne Director of College/ Community Relations Lane College Eugene, OR 97405 SMERC Information Center San Mateo County Office of Education 333 Main Street Redwood City, CA 94063 Mr James Sork Vancouver School District 037 605 N Devine Rd Vancouver, WA 98661 Superintendent Muskegan Public Schools Muskegan, MI 49440 INTERVIEW GUIDE Specifically, how did you develop an interest in quality circles? Did you have any formal training in the concept and practice of Quality Circles? If so, where and with whom? How did you introduce the quality circles to your school system? What are the roles of teachers? principals? supervisors? superintendents? How many people are Involved in each circle? What you mean by mlddle-management in educational quality circles? How many people are included? Who guides quality circle members throughout the process? What were the strengths of the quality circle process in your situation? (i.e., how is the process better than what you were doing before?) What are some of the weaknesses (problems you encountered), in the quality circle process? What processes you use to evaluate your experience with quality circles? 95 f a it I r n n n t c r Stair U n itm ily 0**|UMmcmlit jn| *Hot *InhiNiA 44KJ October 19, 19B3 Dear I an doctoral ntudunt at F nc Tennessee Stata University, Johnson City, Tennesson, I an writing a dissertation on Quality Circles In Education under the direction of Dr Ullllan F.verndun, a professor of Education at East Iennosseu Stato University It will be appreciated if you trill participate in a telephone interview which ui.ll bo conducted very soon for this research will bo delighted If you respond with a dace and tine for the interview The attached is a copy of the Interview guide Very sincerely yours /s/tfllllan Evcrndon, Ed.O Research Director /a/Anthony Anynneha V '.r } Rosenrehcr ET5U box :t::i Johnson City, TI! 3?611 C u llv x t' id f i l u r j l i u n lane, Coiiiniuiiitij College, Productivity Center 4000 East 30lii Avenue Eugene, Oregon 97405 (503) 747.4501 Ext 257G October 13 19S3 Anthony 0* Anyaocha Researcher Eaat Tenr.eaeee State University Department a t Supervision and Administration riQX 21224 Johnson City, Til 37614-0002 boar !tr Anyaochat Vour letter to Larry Romine requesting a telephone interview to gather reaearch information for your dissertation on quality circles has been directed to me as Acting Director of the Productivity Center and coordinator of Lane Coraunity College's Quality Circle Program I have enclosed some information that I fcol will answer many of your questions! however, will bo available for a short interview by telephone at 9t00 o.n P5T, on October 28, 1893 The telephone nunbor is listed above I will look forward to hearing from you on the 2Sth, Sineeroly yours, Julie Atpinwsll-Lamberts Acting Director sg/ Enclosures cct Larry Ranine 141Ilian L, Everndcn L in s C o m m u M , CeMtgs it * n Equal O e D e i l u n i l r / A l l i r m i i i v e A c l i o n / S s c l i o n / T il ls IX I n it ii u h o n 97 Illinois State Board of Education • cCl.’CAT!C'; IS -:vi'F*C.‘li‘S SU'l-ViS 100Nntn FiihSumi Spnnetieid, iiimon 62777 217/781'*321 Vfiww *****Sw iftemttt**#*4* CMuwec* ton w w m (MU* November I, 1983 Hr Anthony Anyaoclu Retoarcher ET5U Box 21214 Johnton City Tonneeaee 37614 Dear Hr Anyaocha: In reepontc to your letter I will be happy to participate in the telephone interview on Quality Circle* in Education and can be available for vour call on Noveobur 17th at 3:00 p.a., telephone (217)782-3309 will be lookin; forward to your call Sincerely Beth R Bandy Director Special Project! CM«i< ■» i(A*0l tvr» 98 I Jlinois R enew al I nstitute Inc October 13, 1983 Hr Anthony Anyaocha Researcher East Tennessee Srate University Box 31326 Johnson City, Totintim 37616-0002 Dear Hr, Anyaochm Thanks for chi Invite, I'n cost pleased to sea that yon are conducting Quality Circle* reiearch in school, an not In a school I train oducators to use Circles, 11 you want ny Interview can be contacted October 27, 9:13 - 3:00 p.a at 312-K70-6I70 At this =oocnt, that tine Is available Regarding your survey, I note you not ask about a steering group, steering policy, or how Circles differ Iron vhat done before Good luck I'd love to hear your results tea, Director i.iinDu nencuat Institute, Inc ttjb ivis.h'-vv!:u M(U.‘;r,TO,’;nt;jc!rrs.» ,U N n is cooni * m i i s i o i m 99 ™ M C E N T R A L S C H O O L S - 1113 3*3 TWELVE COBSenS MIDDLE SCHOOL MONROE AND ELMWOOD AVENUES ROCHESTER NEW VORK l « U R0CHtlTI m -w i HM Cnrfthlinclt ftintWil T h o i r n Cetlixt Aaiiliil Piinciptl OztCbCA 17, 191J Lit AitCftoiit/ Aiitjipcfm flc.lCtLTCflC.t ETSIJ Pet 71114 Jolliuuil C ih r, TU } il4 Cc.w Lit Aiiiucclia, Tj iictt iuoiiCu like to fiavc J telephone cciu*e/Lt'ir