Quality Circles, which were introduced into France in the early 1980's have developed in a very spectacular way. The purpose of this research is to study the evolution of the actual working of quality circles in twelve firms, over a five year period. Longitudinal observation point, four phases as characterizing a full life cycle of quality circle programmes. Hopeful launching is followed by enthusiastic developments, which, in turn, pave the way for a phase during which the excitement falls off. Finally, quality circles programmes to their integration, via an attempt to find a second wind. These findings bring to light three aspects of quality circles seen as a specific mode of organizational change. The "craze" of firms for quality circles leads to stressing a mode of change taken as a managerial technology. Enthusiasm and weariness are part of a mode of change based on experimentation. Finally, understanding the various outcomes of quality circles programmes implies stressing the change seen as a more or less open process
