This study explores the relationship between demographic diversity among members of school leadership councils and the nature and quality of their decision-making processes. A survey was mailed to all members of the leadership councils at 156 Los Angeles (California) Unified School District schools--of which 78 were involved in the shared…

This paper discusses the concept of a dual cultural and political perspective for analyzing interaction. It also illustrates how this dual perspective can explain how senior management teams (SMTs) operate in English secondary schools, in which senior faculty profess commitment to teamwork. Methodology included: (1) case studies of six secondary…

Drawing numerous parallels between educational management and business management, this document compares skills, characteristics, and responsibilities of administrators to those of a corporate executive officer (CEO), provides a short list of school assessment questions, describes effective management practices and their expected results when…

A case study illustrates the concept of the neurotic organization by describing the development of "Central Control College" over a period of 11 years. In this period of time, the college moved from a small, informal organization to a highly developed compulsive institution. The image of neurosis has been applied in the organizational…

Issues and challenges in giving students a voice in the educational process, or motivating them through empowerment, are examined in this monograph. Students whose input is solicited feel a greater sense of ownership with the educational process, which increases their engagement and in turn facilitates school effectiveness. Following an…

The purpose of this paper is to examine how a group of teachers came together to form a proactive culture, conducive to change, which assists them in achieving their ideals. The study is part of a programmatic effort to develop an understanding of how teachers make sense of teaching and of their struggles to change. Using semiotics as a base, the…

Problems in organizational groups are often defined around one pivotal and difficult group member. Based upon C. Stohl and S. Schell's concepts of farrago (a confusing group member who becomes the relational focus of the group), 28 undergraduate students and management personnel who frequently participate in group work were interviewed to validate…

One hundred fifty human resource professionals responded to survey questions on communication effectiveness within their business organizations. Their responses on formal and informal communication patterns, communicating change, small group communication, and superior-subordinate communication were supplemented by interviews with 58…

Noting that the informal communication network or grapevine plays an important role in organizational functioning, this paper reviews research focusing on organizational grapevines from the communication, organizational psychology, and management literature. Among the issues discussed in the review are (1) the speed and accuracy of the grapevine,…

Qualitative interviews and field observation were used in a study that examined the duties, satisfaction, organizational constraints, and career pathways of advertising agency account executives. In addition, the study compared the personnel functions of two different agencies--one large and one small. Results showed that the functions of account…

To find the organizational arrangements of departments of educational administration, 58 departments were surveyed in 35 states. The questionnaire sought information on the general subject areas covered in such departments, the backgrounds of the departments' organizations, their areas of most and least effectiveness, and the relative strengths of…

A study tested a causal model of job burnout from a communication perspective. Drawing from Linear Force Aggregation Theory, social structure theory, and current burnout literature, the study posited direct relationships between network integration, job-related stress, and cognitive distance between perceptions of self and job. It also…

A study examined the relationship between perceived communication competence and its importance in business organizations and the need for additional training of college business students in communication competencies. A survey was sent to all individuals who had indicated to a university center for management education and services an active…

The "at-will" rule in American law is defined as the right of a private sector employer to dismiss an employee without a contract for virtually any reason. The rule has thrived since the nineteenth century and is still a major factor in the employer-employee relationship. However, recent court decisions have fashioned common law…

The author suggests methods a sales manager in a small company can use to train effective salesmen; he defines the sales manager's role, and cites internal and external training resources. The absence of sales training courses in metropolitan Canada is noted. (AJ)