Final answer:
A quality circle consists of front-line employees working together to improve quality, with a focus on autonomous problem-solving and regular meetings to discuss and propose solutions for quality improvement and productivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A quality circle consists of front-line employees working autonomously to improve quality. This approach allows for the fostering of a cooperative environment where team members work together to identify, analyze, and solve work-related problems. Typically, it involves regular meetings where employees can propose and discuss solutions for quality improvement, productivity enhancement, or any other issues that affect their work.
Although management plays a role in facilitating quality circles and may provide resources or guidance, the key aspect is that the employees themselves are the ones driving the changes. This can result in a greater sense of ownership and engagement from the workers, which is conducive to the continuous improvement of organizational processes and employee morale. Quality circles are a part of a company's overall commitment to quality management and the use of methodologies like the 360-degree feedback system can be complementary, as they offer multiple perspectives on performance and can highlight areas for improvement.