Probate coincides with changes in the relational system of a family and often affects the distribution of status and power among kin. The systems approach focuses on the interrelations among beneficiaries and, in some cases, disinherited members of the family. (Author)

Offers a conceptual model based on two encompassing perspectives: (1) negotiating as a set of dilemmas that are derived from the "cooperation-fighting" polarity and (2) negotiating as a composition of four kinds of activities, each connected to a different intention. (Author)

Three significant process relationships were found: (1) social power affected leader behavior; (2) group cohesiveness affected job satisfaction; and (3) job satisfaction affected intent to leave. Important nonsignificant findings also emerged: (1) leader behavior did not affect intent; and (2) group cohesiveness did not affect intent. (Author)

Contributes to scholarship on technical communication and organizational politics and power. Shows how to analyze a power imbalance and succeed in ethically and diplomatically outflanking a more powerful gatekeeper. Argues that analysis of six power variables can help decide whether to go around a gatekeeper, force a concession, or take a chance.…

Facing declining enrollment, loss of state funds, and decreasing public confidence, the Salt Lake City Schools found several groups demanding a voice in the decision-making process. A plan for shared governance was implemented. Representatives of the teachers' association, the administrative association, and the classified employees' association…

Value judgments are central to the process of stakeholder-based evaluations. The selection of stakeholder participants involves a value judgment about the power and the legitimacy of the stakeholders. Consequences of stakeholder evaluation may include pseudoempowerment. Suggestions for evaluators for improving stakeholder evaluations are made.…

Discusses the school social worker's conscious use of self in the daily political processes of the school system. The effective worker must identify influential people within and outside the school system and plan strategic interactions and responses to help students gain maximum benefit from their education. (JAC)

This model is based on considerations of formulation of political goals, a situational-power audit, identification of political targets, power tactics of the change agent and internal change unit, and monitoring of the change process. This should help increase the probability of successful change. (Author/BEF)

Used factors identified in the literature as predictors of centralization/decentralization as potential discriminating variables among several decision making configurations in university affiliated professional schools. The model developed from multiple discriminant analysis had reasonable success in classifying correctly only the decentralized…

Presents a multivariate model for explaining cross-cultural variation in sexual stratification as implied in Collins's theory. Tested the model with subsample of societies (N=74) from the standard cross-cultural sample. Results were inconsistent with Collins's theory. Kinship and family variables were better predictors than economic and political…

This game focuses on techniques for identifying coalitions or subgroups within larger social systems; and generates a wealth of data that not only serve to dramatize social dynamics, but also can be used to identify the structure of coalitions and the degree to which particular individuals exert interpersonal influence. (Author/CMV)

Defines war as symptom rather than cause. Identifies the root cause of the Middle East crisis as destruction of the regional balance of power through foreign augmentation of Iraqi power. Criticizes the tendency to see world problems as a fight between good and evil. Defines realism as the ability to see political realities as a balance of power.…

Critically evaluates the theory of patronage and professional social movement organizations (SMOs) in interpreting the development of black insurgency between 1953 and 1980. Findings support and contradict the social contract theory. Professionalization was only one of many reasons for the movement's decline. (Author/PS)

Proposes that the role of the secondary school assistant principal should be studied in terms of the dynamics of basic political conflicts in schools. When seen as a polity, the school site is full of disturbances that can potentially expand into conflicts; the assistant principals' typical function is to respond to these disturbances. (KH)

Presents an activity in which participants identify organizational situations in which they have tried to influence others and write brief essays discussing the dynamics. Working in pairs they score each other's essays with a form that includes an analysis of the tactics. Provides suggestions for using this design. (Author/RC)