We report on how fifty superintendents (chief executive officers of public school systems, each invited by a researcher to participate) from seven states in the US talked in eight focus groups of their perspectives on their influence as leaders, their efforts to communicate with stakeholders, and how they learn from these stakeholders. We maintain…

Across the USA, technology education has faced many challenges over the past several decades. Educational changes and reform at all levels seem to have had a positive effect on the required classes or "core" courses. As a result, "elective" courses seem to be delegated to a secondary role in a student's education. In…

The territory of the chief executive in higher education is here likened to the physical science "field of forces." (Author/MLF)

Electronic mail is one of several telecommunications technologies that have become potent factors in modern organizational communication. The introduction of such sophisticated microelectronic technology into an organization can have a strong impact on the patterns of communication within that organization. This is the case for the Florida House…

What characterizes the public communication behavior of members of an organization during the manifest stage of organizational conflict? To examine this issue, a study content-analyzed themes and values expressed in 212 news articles, editorials, and letters to the editor published by two community newspapers during a major public university's…

In an effort to establish the domain of organizational communication (OC), this paper defines variables, presents models of their relationships, explains the three dominant approaches to OC, and proposes ways to test their competing claims. Having defined characteristic, causal, and result variables, the paper stresses the importance of…

A study was conducted to assess the extent to which (1) stockholders consider corporate annual reports to be informative and useful, (2) they actually read annual reports, (3) they consider annual reports to be impressive, and (4) they are motivated by the annual report to invest further in corporations in which they already own stock. After the…

Conflict within organizations must be managed to maximize its useful aspects while minimizing those that are dysfunctional. Conflict can be interpersonal or can stem from the structural characteristics of the organization. Sources of conflict include win-or-lose situations that reduce cooperation by fostering competition, incompatibility among the…

Thirty documents selected from the literature on educational change, social systems, and management and organization were searched for statements considered relevant to collaboration and coordination between organizational units. These statements, either quoted or paraphrased, are listed in this report along with their sources. The statements are…

This paper considers how various technologies such as telephone conferencing, computer conferencing, and BOM (Brainstorming on Microfiche) could be used by policy developers. It is argued that many of these technologies are efficient in cost/benefit terms, but are often not being used in organizations because policy developers are not aware of…

Surveys of business managers provide evidence that organizations need help in developing employee communication competencies. Recognizing this need, the speech profession has begun to show an increasing interest in developing both undergraduate and graduate courses in organizational communication. The need for developing communication skills…

Cites and annotates textbooks in organizational communication. (KS)

Describes the school food service industry, providing 27 million meals daily in 89,000 schools, as second only to McDonald's in size. Offers advice for developing a superior, cooperative business venture. Focus must be on visible managers, high quality staff, clearly communicated objectives, and customer satisfaction. (MLH)

This examination of the nature of communication between public library youth services managers and upper management stresses the need for middle managers to develop upward communication skills. Parallels are drawn with such games as "Risk,""Clue," and "Cat's Cradle," and 13 references are listed. (MES)

If the youth services department is to receive its fair share of staff, equipment, respect, and funding, the youth services librarian must learn to express needs to the library director in terms of statistics, goals and objectives, and budget. (MES)