Introduction and diffusion of management tools: the example of quality circles and total quality control

Over the last 30 years, a number of management tools and techniques have appealed to businessmen. Some have become passé and disappeared. Many managers claim they are all "fads" and therefore useless. This paper addresses the way in which institutions "learn", i.e. how management innovations are introduced and diffused. In particular, it looks at total quality control and quality circles, and the likely future for these techniques.