Recent research in group behavior and organizational development is centered around increasing the individual's self-esteem and on developing individual participation in group success. Effective groups depend on a variety of individual contributions and shared decision making, while in turn satisfying human needs for security, achievement, and…

Describes an Employee Participation Plan (EPP) involving teams of three to eight employees and a supervisor/team leader for the purpose of identifying and solving production problems and issues. Key ingredients in a successful EPP include nonauthoritarian leadership styles, thorough group leader training, and prompt action on team suggestions. (SK)

The author states that the classical authoritarian organizational model and managerial style are being replaced by participative and matrix forms of corporate activity. He focuses on setting tomorrow's norms in human resource development. (CT)

James Coleman's theory of high school leading crowd is tested. Changes over the school year are measured for students at Newlawn High, a suburban, working-class school, using data from Coleman's "Adolescent Society" study. (Editor)

Investigates the amount of structure furnished by the leader in the group experience over a nine-week period and its effects on measures of self-concept and self-actualization. (Author)

Examines the leadership styles of seven women college presidents and the perceptions of faculty who interact with them. The presidents described their style, for the most part, as participatory, collaborative, open. The majority of other faculty described their style as hierarchical, entrepreneurial, task-oriented. Explores this discrepancy in…

Young was the first woman to head a large city school system, the first woman to serve as head of a large teachers college, and the first woman president of the National Education Association. Her visionary accomplishments offer inspiration for current women administrators to continue in the quest to improve education. (LSR)

Interviews with 15 women student leaders at three large universities were conducted to learn more about these students and their out-of-class environment. Information about the students' characteristics, role models, leadership styles, relationships with peers, perceptions of what they learned, and the experiences of women of color emerged from…

Examines images of principals' instructional leadership, based on 10 supervision textbooks published between 1985 and 1995. Textbooks portrayed principals as experts and superiors, teachers as deficient and voiceless, teaching as fixed technology, and supervision as a discrete intervention. Images of professional growth (stressing collegiality and…

This article identifies educational trends that have profound implications for understanding the future of schools and discusses a range of initiatives and innovations in schools that point to a fundamental reconceptualization of the nature of the core processes of schooling. The need for an educational renaissance is stressed. (Contains 5…

A case study of an outdoor leader training expedition illustrates how the experiential leadership education model works. A leadership style inventory shows which leadership styles are strong and which need practicing. Data from participants compare leader perceptions of group dynamics with those of the group. A journal of leadership decisions…

Details a strategy for district improvement that establishes discernible parameters and then provides each school with the autonomy to chart its own course and lists four steps toward team engagement. Also former Principal Rebecca Burnette DuFour discusses how the central office can best promote learning communities. (MLF)

Report of a study of the dynamics of cultural values and leadership characteristics from the perspective of Hispanic American and African American women scholars. The results provide insight on "spicing" up definitions of leadership while stressing the importance of viewing women of color as leaders. (Contains 1 table and 24 references.)…

Examined age and gender differences in leadership aspirations among adolescents (N=130) by measuring overall leadership aspirations, valence-instrumentality expectancies for leadership outcomes, self-efficacy perceptions, and attributions of effective leadership. Found significant gender differences in valence scores and age differences in…

Assessed impact of professional involvement in mutual help groups for mentally ill. Compared social climate and behavioral data on members in groups led by either mental health professional or indigenous group member. Found more formal, psychologically direct approach in professionally led group. Professional involvement appeared to affect both…