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'…

Distinguishes between developmental work to bring about change according to a specific organizational theory or organizational development in schools and developmental work based on a rationalistic view of school as an organization or developing schools as organizations. Notes that only the latter can foster real school development. (SB)

Discusses the importance of the selection and evaluation of suitable software packages that will fit naturally into the organizational structure and existing jobs and the role of the training professional in the assessment of training needs and evaluation of training materials supplied by software vendors. (EAO)

States that the purposes of the National Council for Staff, Program, and Organizational Development (NCSPOD) are to foster development activities, research, and evaluation; develop innovative approaches; generate means and resources for self-development; and maintain communication. Lists NCSPOD's services and officers. (DMM)

Just as schools impart social, organizational, and political values to their students, business and industry training programs contain, in addition to the skills ostensibly taught, a large socialization component. Employee human and industrial relations courses should strive to foster democratic participation rather than subservience to the…

Presented at the meeting of the National Council of Family Relations, Milwaukee, 1981. Traced the development of organizational purposes of the National Council on Family Relations and reported results of a survey of past presidents regarding achievement of these purposes. Achievements included establishing professional standards and promoting…

A brief annotated list of recommended readings for the student services manager on the topic of applying management techniques is presented. (Author)

Studies about how schools improve indicate that the process of improvement happens simultaneously on two levels: the individual teacher level and the level of the school as an organization. Staff development, networking, and problem-centered activities are current approaches found promising for school improvement. (Author/MLF)

Effects of organizational development interventions depend on type of product organization is concerned with (end vs process), type of organization (input vs output), and field of forces in situations (driving vs restraining). OD results depend on accuracy of system analysis, intervening correctly, and encouraging belief of positive effects.…

Chronicles the development of public broadcasting from early attempts to develop noncommercial radio through organizations such as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting Service. Discusses the need for federal support and the resulting conflicts. (JMF)

A guide for organizational development specialists, this model for productivity improvement proceeds through six stages: awareness of needs, entry of specialist, data collection, problem identification, action planning, and implementation of solutions. Examples of specific activities for each stage are provided. (SK)

T-groups methodology plays an important role as an experiential learning approach both within and outside of organizational settings. An understanding of differences and similarities between T-group training and team development is critical for communication and for intelligent decisions concerning their utility in organizational development…

Explores concerns over the direction the field of organizational behavior is developing. Karl Weick identifies approaches to theory building that are misleading. Peter Frost identifies blind spots in teaching and application. Walter Nord compares both papers. The authors offer their views on directions in which the field might move. (Author/BEF)

Warren Bennis discusses the field of organization development and its needs, applications, unresolved problems, and future. (LRA)

Reviewing the development of organizational development (OD) since 1969, the author describes the emerging values and historical perspectives of the field, provides a cross-section of processes and theories, and clarifies the changing relationship between the organizational development and human resource development fields. (LRA)