The Topeka System: Creating Employee Engagement through Autonomous Teams

In the mid-20th century, General Foods was experiencing a crisis of disengagement, complacency, and high turnover in many of its factories. Upon opening a new plant in Topeka, Kansas, the senior management team made a bold decision to allow for autonomous work groups in a time where strict management and oversight ruled. This revolutionized employee engagement and the Topeka plant saw high productivity and low turnover rates, proving that autonomy can produce powerful results.