The socio-technical system, which views production systems as being composed of both technological and social parts, is discussed. Socio-technical systems theory became the foundation of self-directed work teams-a way of working also known as 'autonomous,', 'composite,' and 'self-regulating.' Most literature on the subject suggests using a process approach to implementing any change to a self-regulating work style and phasing in the process over a period of from two to five years. However, it is shown how one factory prepared its workers for such a change in a much shorter period of time.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>