Considers the role functions and general competencies of communication trainers. Focuses on the way trainers execute two principal tasks: 1) selecting topics, teaching, and evaluating communication seminars; and 2) diagnosing and managing communication problems which occur within the organization. (JMF)

Three case studies of university communication audits are presented to illustrate recommendations and changes implemented in institutional communication as a result of the audit. (JMF)

Discusses participatory management systems for academic libraries. A model examining degree of control over the decision-making process, the issues subject to control, and the hierarchical level at which control is exercised provides a standardized framework for study and understanding of participation. (CWM)

Secretaries are a valuable staff resource for principals if their skills are utilized effectively. Some successful working procedures are suggested. (Author/MLF)

Evaluates the Nominal Group Technique as a method for structuring a problem solving group's communication. The technique is evaluated in terms of its ability to produce more potential solutions to a problem than an interacting group and in terms of the perceived satisfaction of the participants. (JMF)

Administrators who have survived a teacher's strike know that communication plays the single most vital role in the complexities and emotions of an employee strike against a school district. Discusses guidelines for a planned program of communications that can be set into motion the instant a strike begins. (Author/RK)

University public relations (PR) officers discuss how they have built strong relationships with their campus chief executive officers (CEOs). Successful PR officials need to find out what the CEO wants, be honest, build credibility, be accessible, prove their loyalty, keep the CEO informed, gain breadth and depth of understanding, present…

Finds, among other things that a positive relationship exists between communication satisfaction and employees' organizational commitment and that school teachers were significantly more satisfied with communication practices and more committed to their organization than were employees of two other Guatemalan organizations (a hospital and a food…

Identifies and tests three epistemological categories (constructivists, proceduralists, and subjectivists) for differences in women's workplace perceptions and mentoring relationship. Finds significant differences in perceptions of self-efficacy, career opportunities, and effective mentoring roles and similarities that exist between mentor and…

Reviews linguistic structures in the annual reports of a machine tool manufacturer. Concludes that, as profits decreased and the news became more negative, linguistic structures (including verb structures, thematic structures, context and cohesion, and condensations) suggested a factual, "objective" situation caused by circumstances not…

Presents results of a study in which organizational communication received strong support as a predictor of job satisfaction and weak support as a moderator of the job performance-job satisfaction relationship. Shows that communication dimensions with the greatest support as predictors were accuracy of information, desire for interaction,…

Examines a number of specific paradoxical situations found in participative organizations; compares them to the paradoxes found in select Zen stories or koans--each set of stories or examples focuses on one or more aspects of empowerment. Reveals, through narrative analysis, counterintuitive ideas on how to understand and cope with organizational…

Describes a communication audit project used in a graduate-level management communication course. Reviews literature concerning communication audits, explains why and how an audit project is used in the author's classes, and describes specific audit-related assignments. Concludes that, although a challenging assignment, the audit is worthwhile.…

Investigates positive claims about total quality management (TQM), comparing employee responses from an organization not implementing TQM with those from two organizations using TQM. Finds organizational commitment and perceived organizational support to be higher in TQM organizations, along with more positive employee-top management and coworker…

Discusses intranets--the deployment and use of Internet technologies such as the World Wide Web, electronic mail, and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) on a closed network. Considers the "hype," benefits, standards, implementation, and problems of intranets, and concludes that while intranets can be beneficial,…