Discusses how to improve an organization's training and communications system, both philosophically and technically, and highlights activities conducive to a rewired communication system. Lists online sources on the topic and freeware packages that can be downloaded, and includes job aid forms designed to be copied and posted in the organization.…

A study examined the job performance of 47 adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. Significant discrepancies were found between supervisors' ratings of the importance of work behaviors and their ratings of adolescents' performance of the same behaviors. Adolescents' self-evaluations were significantly more favorable than the ratings…

This article examines the ways in which newly-hired factory workers define literacy. In this study, employees responded to open-ended questions and narrated a story to illustrate on-the-job success. Findings indicate that workers defined literacy in both traditional--in terms of reading and writing--and non-traditional ways, such as…

Two decades of research into educational production function have revealed that variations in school expenditures are not systematically related to educational background, teaching experience, or class size; nor are better teachers paid more than lesser ones. School decision-making must move away from input directed policies to ones providing…

Describes the design, implementation, and practice of a personnel evaluation method (performance appraisal) at the Cambridgeshire Libraries. Findings reported include staff attitudes and perceptions of the method, and the overall effectiveness of the evaluation scheme. Various theoretical models of appraisal and practical applications in…

Using a 1983 survey of Pennsylvania employees' hiring in seven occupations, this article reports differences in employers' observations concerning the effect of postsecondary technical education on employee performance, training periods, turnover, and worker development after hiring. Generally, employers gave more training to workers with a higher…

The literacy training program of Imperial Educational Corporation is a small-group, individualized approach to basic skills instruction for employees lacking basic skills. Pilot studies how significant growth in academic and study skills and positive motivational changes in relation to learning and work. (SK)

Reviews 50 years of research investigating the relationship between intelligence and various aspects of occupational and vocational adjustment as they relate to both exceptional and nonexceptional individuals. Trends in this research are identified and summarized, and implications for counselors involved in vocational programming are discussed.…

Discusses the importance of managing diversity in student academic library employment. Provides suggestions for orientation, policy review and enforcement, supervisory and management training, task training, interviewing techniques, correct placement, job descriptions, performance reviews, and scheduling. Notes importance of communication,…

Performance management, a joint process involving both supervisor and employee in the identification of common goals and writing of performance expectations, is recommended as a quality management approach to college and university personnel management. Its philosophical bases, management rationale, and the use of performance appraisal within this…

Validity of several predictors of student success in teacher education was studied in 437 elementary teacher education students. Assessment forms completed by university supervisors and teachers indicated a reading methods course and grade point average were the most successful predictors of performance criteria. Standardized test scores were not…

Complete performance-based accountability systems (PBASs) have four components: standards and assessments, multiple indicators, rewards, and sanctions. A Colorado survey revealed that teachers felt significantly more accountable in their classrooms than in their buildings for learning climate; curriculum; standards; student behavior, achievement,…

Records reasons that six head teachers at English primary schools gave for choosing to be teaching heads. Reports that they found that they could not successfully meet all of its demands but could not admit this. Notes strategies they adopted to preserve their image in the eyes of parents and administrators. (DSK)

During the last two decades, a shift has emerged in business and government sectors from a focus on training to a focus on performance improvement. This shift to Human Performance Technology (HPT), also called Human Performance Improvement (HPI) or performance technology, emerged in the educational technology literature in the late 1970s and early…

Over the past year the author has conducted user, task and context analyses as part of a larger project to develop a knowledge management (KM) system for the U.S. Navy. In this piece he shares that experience as well as point out a few of the challenges that he encountered. Ideally, this account will provide the opportunity for others to compare…