Examines the use of shared semantics information to link concepts in an organizational memory to e-mail communications. Presents a framework for determining shared semantics based on organizational and personal user profiles. Illustrates how shared semantics are used by the HyperMail system to help link organizational memories (OM) content to…

Outlines why organizations need to learn. Discusses communication embedded in the following: the preconditions for becoming a learning organization, the indicators that a firm is a learning organization, and the disciplines necessary to maintain learning in organizations. Presents an organizational case study of an organization that used…

Examines a series of managerial briefings of staff in nine stores of a major electronics retail chain. Shows that managers were neither trained nor appraised on their briefings skills, prepared themselves indifferently, and made little use of techniques known to affect attentiveness and recall. Finds that the daily communication session appeared…

Studied the sampling-probability hypothesis of cultural influence of H. Triandis by examining the relationship of cultural values and performance feedback referents to an individual's self-efficacy for 92 American, 66 mainland Chinese, and 70 Czech managers. Discusses results with regard to a general model of self-efficacy and culture in an…

This study of 846 scientific research papers investigated the status of scientific communication in the context of interdisciplinary collaboration. Concludes that collaborative research contributed significantly to interdisciplinarity in some disciplines and not in others. Survey findings are discussed from the perspective of scientist-scientist…

Review of recent articles defines elements of risk management for camps: an organizational culture of safety; properly trained and certified staff; continuous improvement, feedback, and input involving all personnel; and a flexible communication policy. Both participation in leisure activities and related lawsuits have risen steadily in recent…

Examines the socialization process of newcomers to a residential high school for performing arts. Finds that communication appeared particularly useful in reducing affective uncertainty and providing students with reassurance and support. Analyzes the hidden curriculum of this school, identifying four aspects: control versus freedom, inclusion…

An intranet is a system which has "domesticated" the technologies of the Internet for specific organizational settings and goals. Although the adaptability of Hypertext Markup Language to intranets is sometimes limited, implementing various protocols and technologies enable organizations to share files among heterogeneous computers,…

An approach used at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Massachusetts) to explain the complexity of budget balancing to the institutional community is described. The model used facilitates the determination of necessary conditions for achieving budget equilibrium and suggests some approaches to restructuring expenses to ensure equilibrium. Four…

Reports on a study that found that the perceived quality of coworker information and superior-subordinate communication concepts were directly related to voluntary turnover intentions, as were organizational commitment and perceived job alternatives. (TB)

Discusses a focal issue in the public relations field: the way that practitioners use academic theories. Offers an exploration of the possible modes of use of academic or scientific theory in public relations practice. Notes that the premise of this model is that scientific knowledge is seldom used in an unaltered form in practice. Closes by…

Describes, from the point of view of a coauthor of popular management books, the pleasures and challenges of writing in this genre. Describes the experience as a rewarding opportunity to develop a theoretically informed book, based on sound case study research, that inspires people and organizations to become the best that they can be. (SR)

Discusses the role of public libraries in helping their communities deal with crisis situations, especially after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Highlights include the need to be proactive and not wait to be asked to participate in planning; status of emergency planning; providing reliable information; and asking users about their information…

Presents a case study describing a training intervention that involved management taking on the role of cofacilitators in a supervisory development program. Discusses the performance analysis that revealed a lack of communication and leadership; management developing as a team during the process; and positive results. (LRW)

Suggests that narrative discourse helped a management team resolve conflict, influence corporate decisions, and unify the group. Argues managers' preference for collectively constructed narrative reasoning reflected their beliefs that narrative conveyed contextual complexities and helped interpret other types of evidence. Shows how through…