Identifies external and internal variables that affect public-sector organizations. Contextual frameworks are developed as orienting devices for organization development intervention in divisions of state welfare systems. Describes tactics of change in ambiguous performance settings and focuses on internal influence variables expected to affect…

Evaluated the effectiveness of a U.S. General Accounting Office communications training program. Employees who underwent training reported more positive attitudes about communication skills and performed better on knowledge and recognition assessments, otherwise the relative amount of change on the measures was not very large. (Author)

Strategies were based on a low-key consultative technique designed to build community-college ownership of the program. The project resulted in staff-development activities at each college, including resource handbooks for part-time faculty, meetings with full-time personnel, and greater access to existing services. (Author)