Scholars representing the field of organizational science, broadly defined as including many fields--organizational behavior and development, management, workplace performance, and so on--were asked to identify what they considered to be the most exciting and imaginative work currently being done in their field, as well as how that work might…

Presents findings of organizational learning literature that could substantiate claims of learning organization proponents. Examines four learning processes and their contribution to performance-based learning management: knowledge acquisition, information distribution, information interpretation, and organizational memory. (SK)

Any organized activity centered on human development could legitimately be seen as human resource development (HRD). A more holistic view defines HRD as a wide range of integrating processes aimed at developing greater purpose and meaning, higher performance, and greater capacity to respond to change, leading to more effective individuals, teams,…

Role analysis is a powerful yet simple organizational development technique. When expectations are clarified, individual team members can become more effective and efficient. Then, synergy occurs and the whole team becomes more effective. (JOW)

The United States needs a skilled, productive work force. The science of human performance technology can be applied to the establishment of performance improvement systems in organizations. (Author)

Organizational change should be approached first by identifying organizational goals, what people should produce to meet them, what kind of people are needed, and how performance can be elicited. The role of performance technology is to assist people in accomplishing the tasks necessary to achieve the goals. (SK)

Briefly discusses six articles dealing with the role of psychology and psychological research in improving economic productivity. Considers: (l) effects of drug abuse and alcoholism and of psychological programs on employee productivity; (2) methods for analyzing the economic impact of organizational improvement programs; and (3) psychologists'…

While human resource development (HRD), an extension of education, is regarded as a helping profession, industry mandates that HRD contribute to the maximization of organizational outcomes. HRD personnel can easily become demotivated because of dual loyalties. In order not only to avoid stress and demotivation but also to maximize outcomes…

Presents eight noninstructional strategies for improving employees' performance in any organization. These alternatives to instruction include job redesign and reassignment, recruitment, organizational development, facilities and tool redesign, incentive and feedback systems, and provision of a strong rationale for the desired performance so…

A problem-centered approach to training can be effective if (1) the goal is to bring about individual and organizational change; (2) the training is an integral part of company strategy; and (3) the problem is relevant to participants, current and pressing, and has corporate commitment to implementation of the solution. (SK)

People in noneducation fields recognize and accept leadership behaviors linked to using rewards and punishments, relying on loyalty and trust, and yielding results. Many noneducation professionals think educators are caught up in a communitarian/participation cult that encourages mediocre job performance. However, schools are a business and must…

Staff development activities that affect professional ability must be coupled with efforts toward organizational development if two additional determinants of performance, employee motivation and organizational climate, are to be significantly improved. Indeed, emphasis on staff development alone may have negative effects in that such an approach…

Multisource assessment is a tool for obtaining quality performance feedback by collecting performance information from multiple work associates. Topics include performance facilitation; performance feedback; assessing training effectiveness; continuous learning; and development or performance management. (AEF)

Arguing that technological change often affects the organizational structure of library workplaces, this paper presents two alternative approaches to the implementation of change in organizational structures, provides several examples of each approach, and suggests related reading materials. It is noted that the configurational approach…

Though career plateauing can be put off, it can seldom be entirely avoided. Distinction is made between plateauing of the job content type and plateauing of the structural or organizational type. Primary solutions involve job enrichment, performance goal adjustments, lateral transfers, or modified standards of appraisal. (SSH)