Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to propose how a bottom-up creation of an ambidextrous organization can be enabled. By integrating research on "contextual ambidexterity" and "individual and organizational capacity building", an "innovation capacity building" framework is conceptualized that suggests how balance…

This paper discusses the neglected theme of job design in education. It argues that the traditional top-down method of designing work roles ignores the interests, abilities and needs of employees and leads to individuals adopting an unsanctioned approach to job design, "job crafting". It is posited that a third approach is needed, that…

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…

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 review of workplace democracy revealed that both practice and research need updating. The results are discussed in terms of history, theory, research and practice. Implications for human resource development research and practice are also included. (Contains 2 tables.)

A combination of crises and innovative attempts to manage them that began in 1980 transformed the relationship between Xerox Corporation and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, which represents most of Xerox's manufacturing employees. Eight pivotal episodes were largely responsible for the transformation. The first was a joint…

A study investigated the attitudes, feelings, and perceptions of faculty members at the University of West Florida toward the larger workplace (the organization) and, in particular, their immediate work setting (climate). The two primary questions to be answered were: (1) do faculty perceive their departments as promoting or restricting workplace…

This study examines human resource management practices in Japanese organizations in the United States, specifically those in the Fort Custer Industrial Park, Battle Creek, Michigan. It identifies characteristics of human resource management, compares them with those of their parent organizations, and looks at modifications needed because of a new…

A case study of two metropolitan newspapers examined whether there was a relationship between type of newsroom management style--"authoritarian" or "democratic"--and journalists' perceptions of management style and leadership, editors' roles, career goals and job satisfaction, readers' news source contact, and community…

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…

The use of performance appraisal (PA) as part of a performance management system at the college level is discussed, and a process model to implement PA through staff development is presented. Through PA, the supervisor and employee develop a framework for identifying job duties and responsibilities, goals and objectives, and performance measures.…

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)

Strategies for recruiting and retaining summer camp staff include promoting meaningful relationships among staff, communicating to staff the importance of their job, providing opportunities for challenge and growth, encouraging staff to have fun, making camp an affordable employment option, and giving staff a voice in camp operations and…

Limited research has been conducted on the direct and indirect impact of union-management cooperation (UMC) programs on worker autonomy, work group effectiveness, and worker satisfaction. For this study, a research questionnaire designed to explore these relationships was mailed to four Ohio unions and was returned by 339 members. Workers at…

This booklet synthesizes symposium discussions exploring how to transform organizations to compete in the rapidly changing world economy. First, the new cooperative organization is defined. Next, practical advice on making partnership organizations a reality is summarized. Suggestions include appealing to people's self-interest; coming up with…