Describes the successful quality circle program at Mercury Marine, a leading outboard motor manufacturer. Discusses reasons for quality circle failure in American industries and suggests ways to achieve success. (JOW)

The three training challenges in the voluntary sector are training nonprofit agency staff in management principles, training staff to work effectively with volunteers, and training volunteers. (SK)

This special supplement discusses the six major models for strategic planning, how to choose a strategy and apply it to an organization, how to begin participating in the strategic process, and how to influence the strategic process. (JOW)

Presents a method for socializing trainees into the learning environment, including a model of organizational socialization, applications in training, and instruments for assessing socialization. (SK)

Author explains organization development and tells why individually-oriented training is ineffective unless integrated within the context of an overall organization improvement. (Author/SP)

The training office has to sell management on the most beneficial kind of training; the attitude of the training office toward its programs influences their chances of acceptance. (Author/AJ)

Defines self-managed work teams as small groups of co-workers who share tasks and responsibilities of a well-defined segment of work. Discusses internal and external leadership, the role of the administrator, the coach, and the advisor, and organizational considerations. (JOW)

The article identifies a few of the reasons why some training activities flourish while others diminish in importance. (Author)

Six steps to successful needs analysis are (1) collect information about the organization, (2) identify potential training opportunities, (3) conduct a performance audit, (4) select and test content areas, (5) determine the required skills, knowledge, and abilities, and (6) verify this information against the organization's issues and goals. (SK)

Twelve trends in the emerging "metaindustrial work culture" are strategic planning, systems orientation, futuristic management, transformational management, decentralized management, executive involvement, research orientation, human capital emphasis, creative work patterns, organizational culture, synergy and networking, and…

Describing some of the causes of midlife crisis and reasons why organizations should offer help to their employees, the authors suggest these actions: continuing education, retraining, mentoring, autonomy, support groups, counseling, and sabbaticals. (SK)

Describes the Employee/Corporate Human Objectives" model, with suggestions for dealing with now generation" workers. (Editor/SP)

An interview in which W. Mathew Juechter speaks from experience and the passionately held belief of the role of the corporation as custodian of the planet and the chief nurturer of the human spirit. (Author/JOW)