Describes and compares two designs of work group: those which are based on the use of standard operating procedures, as found in lean production, and those based on decentralized in‐group solving of problems, as found in reflective production. Uses a Euro‐Japanese example of the former and a...

Until recently, only relatively few Northern European companies had organized their operations by use of autonomous work groups, although the first literature on this subject stems from the 1950s. Yet this seems to be changing. From recent publications and the author′s experience it appears...