The type of influence exercised on decision-making by a position in an organization may vary from decision to decision. The position may simply be free to make recommendations or need to be informed of decisions to implement them. On the other hand, the position may influence the decision, be able to veto it, or authorize and issue a directive to…

Noting the increasing impact of office automation on the workings of both people and organizations, this paper purposes the need for implementation methodologies, termed "self-actualizing systems," to introduce automation technologies into the office environment with a minimum of trauma to workers. Such methodologies, it contends, allow users to…

A compilation of ideas from the nation's school-community relations experts, this handbook suggests many types of communication. The introduction describes school-community relations as a four-step process: (1) analyzing what, how, and with whom to communicate; (2) planning and formulating a timetable and evaluation methods; (3) communicating; and…

Because of their direct or indirect impact on a company, relations with its publics have long been a preoccupation of management. This study, based on information received from more than 500 executives representing 368 companies, documents the complex of issues and publics that shapes contemporary corporate external relations efforts and probes…

The research presented in this paper demonstrates that Katz and Kahn's (1966) distinction between people-processing and object-processing organizations is a useful classification scheme that can help explain differences in organizational communication systems. To assess the usefulness of Katz and Kahn's scheme, data derived from a sample of more…

The two papers in this document focus on general systems theory. In her paper, Linda Lederman discusses the emergence and evolution of general systems theory, defines its central concepts, and draws some conclusions regarding the nature of the theory and its value as an epistemology. Don Rogers, in his paper, relates some of the important features…

Because information flow is considered essential to an organization and because decision makers are dependent upon accurate information, the distortion of messages as they move upward in an organization has become a central concern of many organizational communication researchers. The purposes of this paper are to critically review the various…

Intended for use by local Head Start programs, the manual is designed to facilitate and improve the integration of components in the delivery of services to handicapped children and their families. The document is divided into four units, each designed for use as a 1 1/2-hour staff session. Unit I focuses on the issues of defining and clarifying…

A sample of 54 subjects, representing four levels of management in a chain of retail stores, participated in an experimental study of the effects of channel of communication (face-to-face, telephone, and written) and anonymity on satisfaction with, and distortion of, upward communication. Results indicated that the channel used led to significant…

The intention of this paper is to make management and organizational behavior researchers aware of the nature of the communication apprehension construct, as well as of research conducted to date, and some of the implications for on-going organizations. (Author)

To promote greater accountability, supervisors in mental health facilities will be required to monitor activities of their organizations. The Outpatient Division of the Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences has developed an administrative accounting based on management by objectives. Presents the evolution, philosophy, and format of the…

Details the essential and optional parts of a memorandum, noting when and how to use the memorandum as an effective organizational communication tool. (RL)

Examines organizational information management and the notion of information richness--that phenomena by which certain individuals are better able to acquire, process, and utilize information than others. Based on an analysis of research findings, some tentative hypotheses relating management and organizational information richness are suggested…

The article discusses the importance of continuous organizational change and renewal and presents ten conditions that must be met before renewal or change can come about. (MF)

Managerial style has implications for program evaluators who wish teir work to be utilized in the decision-making process. This article characterizes managerial behavior in general, and draws some inferences as to how utilization would proceed and how it might be increased. (Author/CTM)