Evidence-based practice (EBP) is therapy guided by the results of scientifically sound, relevant research. The Occupational Performance Process Model outlines the occupational therapy problem-solving process to assist occupational therapists in integrating information about individual clients into research findings to implement EBP. (SK)

Internal computer networks, or intranets, are a way for organizations to provide learning opportunities and performance support. The value of intranets depends on the quality of resources, the degree to which they are maintained, and ease of use. Users need help in learning to use these resources for optimal benefit. (SK)

Discusses why a properly fitting office chair is an important influence on productivity and health. Features to look for in chair selection, such as quality and adjustability, are highlighted, as are tips for evaluating and choosing a manufacturer. (GR)

Compares approaches to occupational analysis and develops a framework that identifies the role, skill, and function of each of the following dimensions: focus, conception of rationality, view of knowledge, concept of intelligence, learning process, individual/expertise relationship, enabling factors, psychological theory, model of social…

Networking characteristics and performance information from multiple raters were collected for 140 African-American and 45 white managers. Informal networks of high-performing African-Americans were composed of higher proportions of African-Americans than those of lower-performing counterparts. Leadership training should consider the concepts of…

Discusses problem solving and why employees need to be trained and educated to solve problems. Highlights include domain knowledge and its role in problem solving; instructional design issues; types of problems; discrete problems versus metaproblems; and the need to prescribe instructional design processes for each type of problem. (LRW)

Discusses how to deal with situations when the client specifies what training is desired before the trainer knows whether the requested training is appropriate. Suggests raising the target level, creating curiosity about other approaches, and paraphrasing the client's intent. (JOW)

Reio and Wiswell's study of 233 service industry workers found that state and trait curiosity (reflecting in information seeking on the job) influenced their technical and interpersonal job performance through workplace socialization. Rowden's critique faults the uncertain definition of terms and possibility of response bias. (SK)

Results of a comparison of 113 insurance company employees who left voluntarily with 113 who stayed supported a relationship between absenteeism, performance ratings, and voluntary turnover. There was no significant interaction effect. (SK)

In "Value-Added and Other Methods for Measuring School Performance: An Analysis of Performance Measurement Strategies in Teacher Incentive Fund Proposals"--a paper presented at the February 2008 National Center on Performance Incentives research to policy conference--Robert Meyer and Michael Christian examine select performance-pay plans…

Intuition usually is defined as the capability to act or decide appropriately without deliberately and consciously balancing alternatives, without following a certain rule or routine, and possibly without awareness (Gigerenzer, 2007; Hogarth, 2001; Klein, 2003; Myers, 2002). It allows action which is quick (e.g. reaction to a challenging…

While providing stability and uniformity, organizational routines can foster continuous change. Using Feldman's (2000) performative model of routinized action theory, coupled with leadership succession research, we examined how three successive administrations in a California high school revised a student attendance (tardy-monitoring) routine over…

The goal of this study was to identify the relationship of at-risk youth workplace appearance to other job performance criteria. Employers (n = 30; each employing from 1 to 17 youths) evaluated 178 at-risk high school youths who completed a paid summer employment experience. Appearance evaluations were significantly correlated with evaluations of…

This article calls for the inclusion of emotional competencies within basic competencies considered in compulsory schooling and in the objectives of pre-service teacher training that is now being designed within the European Space for Higher Education. Toward this end, we review current research on the fundamental role of emotional competencies,…

Recent research in the areas of human performance technology (HPT), organizational development, and cross-cultural training has suggested the need for developing managerial competencies that are effective in diverse cultural settings. Some competencies such as technical proficiency, knowledge of company systems, adaptability, and the ability to…