Researches secretarial writing in a medium-sized manufacturing company. Finds that secretaries' duties include correcting grammar and usage, providing proper format for letters and memoranda, and generating texts. Supports further research into the role of secretaries as producers of texts. (MM)

A comparison of 753 U.S. telecommunications workers with 655 in Hong Kong found a positive relationship between readiness for self-directed learning and job performance. U.S. respondents generally scored higher than did Hong Kong subjects on the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale. (SK)

Notes that academic administrators who are frequently involved with employment references and hiring should view the increasing legal implications of employment references with apprehension. Offers guidelines for checking references and for giving out references. (RS)

Behavioral Analysis and Standards for Employees (BASE) is a job analysis process that focuses on employee behavior and the standards and conditions for it. BASE is cost effective and enables participation of stakeholders. (SK)

Tipsy board members and administrators lose on two levels; they forgo the confidence of those above them and give power to the next person eager to seize their office. Executives are advised to keep apprised of others' blunders. A colleague who has fallen into the fireplace at the district's Christmas party lessens competition for the next…

Training is a system of requirements, resources, and results. The requirements tell the system what it needs to do, the system produces results intended to meet the requirements, and the system consumes resources to produce results. Understanding what the customer wants enables trainers to tailor all processes to that goal. (JOW)

The key to measuring training results is to target them during front-end analysis. Training for results means knowing which performances have to be changed before choosing an intervention. (SK)

Provides directions for conducting a workshop providing technical training in a large organization that links job performances to work processes. Organizational levels of performance are discussed; relationship maps and process maps are explained; and an example of a workshop for a software maintenance environment is presented. (two references)…

Accuracy and effectiveness of job performance standards and competencies can be increased through authentic worksite research and applications of advancements in cognitive science. (SK)

Results of an exercise in which 145 banking managers mentored a hypothetical protege indicated that mentors anticipated greater rewards and were more willing to mentor the better their proteges' past performance. Mentors were more willing to mentor and anticipated greater rewards if male proteges were married and female proteges were single. (SK)

Managers can foster employee career development by recognizing "coachable moments": when employees demonstrate new interests, seek feedback, experience poor job fit, or are thinking about change. Managers can verbalize support and mobilize employees by suggesting concrete steps. (SK)

Training needs analysis in an organization is influenced by characteristics of the organization, decision makers, and analysts. As organizations adapt to the changing environment, needs analysis helps define human resource problems and appropriate solutions. (SK)

Tests an integrative model of the relationships among diversity, conflict, and performance, using a sample of 45 electronics-industry worker teams. Functional background diversity drives task conflict; multiple types of diversity drive emotional conflict. Task conflict affects task performance more favorably than does emotional conflict. (102…

Hierarchical regression analysis of data from 118 financial services employees indicated that those who received more formal training received superior ratings of improved job performance. Those with more formal training had greater confidence in their ability to do their jobs. (SK)

Discusses the methodologies successfully used at the University of Michigan Plant Building Services for the maintenance of the safety and health of almost 400 management and custodial staff, and which may be extended to cover all the more than 1,500 workers throughout the university's Plant Operations Department. The establishing of departmental…