The article addresses teacher retention challenges employers are experiencing in the quest to effectively meet standard human resource management practices. The quality of the employer-employee relationship forms the foundation upon which effective management practices thrive. Teachers who remain in education value students and their personal…

Examines the experience of worker participation and finds that the tendency is for such programs to weaken unions and limit workers' power in significant ways. (JOW)

Today's participatory work cultures are moving power down through organizations. Many of them empower self-directed work teams (SDTs) with the responsibility for managing themselves and their work. Key issues in building successful SDTs include selecting team players, training for success, and rewarding team performance. (JOW)

Employee involvement (EI) activities were established by management to create more meaningful work for employees and to make companies more competitive. What is missing is a clear method to link the problems of an organization with the appropriate EI activity. (JOW)

A 10-step model of techniques for developing effective teams encompasses credibility, ventilation of issues, orientation, group process, group goals, facilitation, intragroup procedures, intergroup processes, different roles for trainers, and setting groups free to function on their own. (JOW)

The challenge for human resource development managers is to design an environment that makes the most of productive people rather than perpetuating the factory system of work. (JOW)

Argues that the quality of work life literature is both appropriate and useful for understanding and improving the effectiveness and quality of school life. Suggests that both quality and effectiveness of learning and school operations can be improved by adopting participative management models and innovations. (CJM)

The spread of worker-owned businesses has brought about a significant increase in workplace learning. The International Cooperative Association is one of several North American firms consulting in this area. They argue the need for a pedagogy for the new democratic workplace. (CH)

Presents a career ladder model intended as a guide to be implemented according to the particular circumstances of a school district. Addresses longitudinal career plans and enhancement of the professional work place. (SRT)

In 1997, former Edmonton (Alberta) school superintendent Michael Strembitsky instituted school-based management in seven schools. Although the district retained policymaking responsibility, schools could decide matters such as class organization, number of teachers, and budgeting for learning resources and equipment. Giving schools control over…

Examines a recent trend in American businesses--workplace democracy--and what it means for education, with specific suggestions for classroom methodology. Discusses democracy in American businesses, education's role in preparing future business employees, and suggestions for business educators. (CT)

The study of work, the experience of work, and how work is organized does not constitute an category of study within the mainstream social sciences. Students need to be introduced to the varieties of capitalist and noncapitalist models or experiments and confront the debate over organizational form versus social context. (MLW)

Quality circles may be regarded as a form of organizational intervention strategy to enhance productivity and product quality through employee participation. Operationally, small groups of individual employees voluntarily meet regularly to (1) identify problems relating to productivity and product quality, (2) discuss them, (3) identify and…

Today's superintendents are unaccustomed to sharing significant power with others and are expected to educate all youngsters effectively. Superintendents' responses to differences with their boards can profoundly affect progress in school improvement. By stressing dialog over discussion, superintendents might keep their jobs without sacrificing…

Describes Sweden's massive effort to bring democracy to the workplace through programs of worker education and participation in industrial decision making. Stresses that the United States can learn much from the Swedish workplace education experience. (Author/MJL)