Finds that workers in a large organization identified more strongly with their self-managing team than with their company and that long-term workers reported more identification with both their team and company than did short-term workers. Suggests that a concertive (or team-based) system of control is more powerful but less obtrusive than its…

Suggestions are made for supervisors to help make the personnel evaluation process more meaningful and less intimidating to employees, particularly when cultural, gender, disability, or other personal characteristics inhibit mutual understanding. Emphasis is on clear, two-way communication and constructive interaction. (MSE)

A typology of the influencing strategies used in academic decision making in higher education institutions is proposed, then applied to one university program development project. The typology assumes two basic influence modes (pressure and legitimization) and seven types of organizational resources (expertise, money, information, time, rules,…

Increasing use of computer networks such as the World Wide Web makes it necessary for colleges and universities to formulate policies concerning institution-related postings. This involves designing institutional pages that are well-formulated, accurate, and in compliance with state and federal laws, and establishing policy that allows for some…

Describes the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (M-BTI), which evaluates people's preferences with regard to their involvement with the outside world, the way they receive information, the manner in which they make judgments, and their approach to interacting with the outside world. Discusses application of the M-BTI in community colleges for team…

The experiences of several colleges and universities in expanding, streamlining, and enhancing alumni association regional programs are presented. Issues discussed include event attendance, offering services efficiently, conducting focus groups, designing events and selecting speakers, and communicating with leaders and members. (MSE)

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis is the first public institution to implement Responsibility Center Management (RCM), a comprehensive decentralized, incentive-base financial management system. RCM has strengthened academic planning, budget management, general accountability, and multiyear fiscal planning. Organizational…

Finds that in almost two-thirds of the cases studied, in which organizations responded to public charges of sexual harassment, legal strategy--rather than public relations strategy--was used by official spokespersons. Argues that organizations need to reconcile the often contradictory counsel of public relations and legal professionals. (SR)

Explores the varying degrees of success that technical communicators had in different geographic and organizational settings of three development efforts within one company. Finds that a high degree of integration between technical communicators and developers can result in improved information products but that the organizational framework, work…

Informs early childhood center directors of efficient ways to promote and market their facilities and programs. Because the day-to-day logistics of scheduling teachers, ordering supplies, and communicating with parents often leave little time for formal marketing, creative ideas are needed. Suggestions include yellow-page ads, a variety of…

Discusses the use of multimedia for communication, information, and training in large organizations through local area networks and wide area networks. New applications for multimedia are reviewed; network design considerations are discussed; requirements for multimedia software are described; and system security is considered. (LRW)

Suggests that newsroom employees may have difficulty seeing a direct link between performance and assessment because they are operating from a paradigm based on their experience of academic courses and grades. Provides guidelines for both the newsroom manager and the college teacher on how to change attitudes and the perception of workplace…

Summarizes traditional views about power relations in the workplace and their effects on writing. Tests these assumptions against medieval business correspondence and technical writing in the nuclear power industry. Discusses how these large-scale hierarchical organizational structures profoundly influence written communication. (RS)

Using data gathered in interviews and observations, this article examines the effects of formal policy structures on the work of professionals dealing with adolescent sexuality. Informal structures and policies initiated by these professionals are discussed, along with the mechanisms used to develop and communicate them. Recommendations are…

The experiences of Wellesley College (Massachusetts) with developing a long-range plan for institutional survival in the 1990s illustrate the value of two strategies: devising a planning process that reflects the institutional culture, and spending time early in the process to gain broad agreement on basic financial principles and planning…