If the Quality of Working Life (QWL) is to become a distinct “school” then, it is argued, it should possess all the attributes of a school, in particular, vocabulary, concepts and methodology. The very importance of QWL problems in contemporary society would suggest that the realisation of these attributes is an urgent task. It is argued that what appears to be needed is an integrated theoretical framework, and to this end a socio‐economic systems approach serves as the main focus of this contribution.