Argues the need to modify contemporary scholarly conventions that news firms expect open conflict between reporters and their superiors on policy issues. Notes that interviews at two newspapers and "Time" magazine suggest that journalists investigating their own organizations draw away from confronting key professional conflicts.…

A temporarily disabled executive experiences first hand what those who are disabled regularly face. He offers suggestions for going further than the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and making the workplace work for those with disabilities. (JOW)

Suggests the existence of a third major organizational role for public relations: "communication executive," composed mainly of corporate senior vice presidents of public relations and communication who report directly to CEOs. Reports on a survey of those in this role, and shows that communications methods used five years ago to…

This study involved 530 nursing staff working in 25 for-profit and nonprofit nursing homes, 2 of which failed to meet residential care standards. Nursing home climate in failed homes was perceived as being significantly lower in human relations and higher in laissez-faire and status orientation dimensions that the climate in the successful homes.…

Four small business owners recommend making the crucial departments the best, providing opportunities from within, involving senior managers in training, offering tuition assistance, having workers train each other, fostering trust between employers and employees, allowing the free flow of information, and using total quality management or quality…

Finds that university employee perceptions regarding top management-employee communication relationship, quality of top management's communication, and superior-subordinate communication are strongly related to organizational commitment. Finds that perceived organizational support (influenced by the top management-employee communication…

Studies how certain types of communication with supervisors and co-workers affects burnout and job satisfaction. Proposes and tests a model relating supportive communication (participation in decision making with supervisors and strength and breadth of communication links with co-workers) to burnout. (SR)

Evaluates a model exploring the mitigating effects of three types of explanations on subjects' negative reactions when told they had been deceived. Explanations were found to mitigate differentially feelings of disapproval, injustice, blame, and unforgiveness, depending on the type of explanation, the severity of outcome, the explanation's…

Discusses six warning signals that can help decide when to consider quitting a job. Advocates including those warning signals in business communication courses to help students develop problem-solving skills and prepare them for the working world. (SR)

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)

Before companies attempt to increase the diversity in their management ranks, it is necessary for them to learn to manage diversity. Managers should have a plan; focus on individual learning, human-relations, motivational, and communication styles; examine organizational culture; and offer diversity training. (JOW)

Surveyed cooperative education program students (n=115) to determine what factors influenced their decision to select an employer. Two factors were statistically significant: challenging work and career-oriented work. Recommends focus on line supervisors and their impact on students. (ABL)

Employers are offering a variety of benefits to assist workers with family responsibilities, including child care and time off to look after aging parents. (Author)

Explains the need for interpersonal skill standards to ensure that employees' interpersonal skills are as appropriate as their technical skills. Highlights include using groups to define interpersonal skill standards; how to derive interpersonal skill standards by consensus; and an example of interpersonal skill standards for doctors. (LRW)

Describes successful effort of small women's social services agency to modify its way of operating by means of problem-solving process involving board and staff members. Notes that conflict between staff members actually involved fundamental issues facing organization in transition from informal, volunteer effort to established, service-giving…