Discusses employees on international assignments and describes a study that examined reasons for the failure rate of expatriates. Topics include business issues; employee issues, including psychological and professional; personal factors; organizational factors; cultural factors; and the need for cultural training prior to departure. (LRW)

Explores the importance of leadership, vision, purpose, organizational culture, motivation, and change as aspects of organizational life that Total Quality Management (TQM) does not adequately address. Offers the concept of learning organizations as a preferable approach, arguing that this method is a needed element in the leadership and…

Discusses how, as the economy worsens, appeals of decisions on financial aid are on the rise at colleges across the United States. (EV)

Presented is an activity where students conduct a micrometeorological study in their neighborhood using temperature, humidity measurements, and mapping skills. Included are a discussion of surface weather observations, the experiment, and directions. (KR)

The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in older buildings often do not adequately handle air-borne contaminants. Outlines a three-stage Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) assessment and describes a case in point at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, school. (MLF)

A strong relationship between staff morale and quality of reference service is suggested by this preliminary study of 37 public library reference department staff members, with further study recommended. Other factors studied included rapport with unit heads, patron relations, group cohesion, and work environment. (53 references) (EAM)

Generally, the need analysis system accurately reflects a family's ability to contribute toward funding a college or university education. However, in recent years the system has shown inequities to families in certain regions where home values have increased disproportionately fast. It is concluded that equal assets on paper do not accurately…

Interviews with 20 branch managers and 20 accountants in an Australian bank determined factors influencing the success of an employee assistance program (EAP). It was found that policies requiring supervisors to act against normal managerial practice doom EAPs to failure. Organizational analysis to integrate the EAP within existing organizational…

Provides a conceptual overview of the four studies on management writing included in this issue. Relates research on written management communication to evolving conceptions of workplace literacy. Argues that stronger emphasis should be placed upon innovative methods of creating organizational attention to managers' writing as both process and…

The nine articles included in this feature emphasize how leisure, recreation, health and physical activities make winter cities more livable. Specific topics include techniques for teaching about cold weather safety and cold related injuries, Arctic Winter Games, and results of a study on winter recreation in large North American communities. (IAH)

Provided are 26 ideas to help children explore the effects of mountains on the weather. Weather conditions in Nepal and Colorado are considered separately. Nine additional sources of information are listed. (CW)

Parallel issues in work and schools are cited and discussed. This article suggests that the organizational structure of schools contributes to lowered teacher morale and creativity; and concludes that school policymakers must learn the lessons of industry: Give employees a stake in the system by decentralizing decision making. (IAH)

Discusses the need for on-the-job training for newly appointed academic librarians to provide an introduction to the policies, procedures, methods, relationships, and attitudes that form the character of their positions. An example is used to illustrate the guidelines for a successful orientation. (7 notes with references) (Author/CLB)

The belief that attitude is the essence of learning is central to the philosophy in Duval County (Florida) schools. Principals are chosen based on enthusiasm and positive communications with staff members and community, and as staff and community pride in the schools has increased, so has academic performance. (TE)

After raising tuition for a number of years, some states are trying to freeze or reduce public college tuition. These changes arise from concern about reduced enrollments and image, and it is hoped that legislatures will respond with increased appropriations. Some critics fear a compromise in educational quality. (MSE)