Organizations can benefit from using bias audits to examine their human resource systems to identify barriers related to culture, gender, age, and other differences. (Author)

In the last decade, technology has rendered a lot of face-to-face interaction unnecessary. However, human contact is still essential to true communication. (JOW)

Interviews with 96 participants indicated that employees, managers, and human-resource-development staff use different strategies to organize work-related learning networks. Choice of strategy (extended training, directed reflection, reflective innovation) was partially related to type of work (machine-bureaucratic, entrepreneurial, professional).…

A new measure of work time correlates well with the standard self-reported workweek method. However, a closer look reveals that reference periods (last week versus last year) have an impact on some workers in the distribution. (Author)

A survey of 62 business-communication students compared the attitudes of men and women about (1) the value of technology in making users more productive; (2) the impact of computers on people and their work environment; and (3) the relative comfort of men and women when using computers. Results indicated that women were more positive on all three…

The 10-item Team Player Inventory assesses the degree to which individuals are positively predisposed toward organizational team-working environments. Discusses how this inventory will assist researchers in testing theoretical models of team effectiveness and practitioners in determining the degree to which specific individuals will react…

Companies are competing for an ever-smaller share of the labor pool and are finding that offering training gives them a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining employees. Both technical and interpersonal skills training is in demand. (JOW)

Holland's theory provides a means of describing both people and environments. He has developed techniques for assessing and classifying different vocational instruments. His newest measure, the Position Classification Inventory, should stimulate new research in vocational psychology. (49 references) (Author/SK)

Interviews with 32 British union representatives and a survey of 200 auto workers found that union strength was renewed because of new management techniques in industry, which have increased local autonomy. Unions are directly engaged in the issues involved in teamwork, quality control, and flexible manufacturing. (SK)

Three analyses of data from 197 older employees and their spouses identified work and nonwork factors influencing age of retirement. Finances predicted retirement but health and gender did not. Being tired of working and expecting to work for pay after retirement predicted earlier retirement. (SK)

The diadic method of measuring congruence by comparing the personality type of each member in an environment with each of the others was used with 205 workers. Correlations between diadic congruence scores and satisfaction were found. These correlations were similar to those between homogeneity of the environment and satisfaction. (SK)

Top-down processes for institutionalizing ideas can stifle creativity. Xerox researchers learned how to combine process-based and practice-based methods in order to disseminate best practices from a community of repair technicians. (JOW)

Although there are important human resource basics, such as competitive pay and benefits and career growth opportunities, retention of information technology (IT) workers is less about money than it is about respectful treatment. Retention involves designing interesting jobs, giving recognition, providing regular feedback, and being flexible about…

This study investigated the ways in which workplace supports are conceptualized and implemented by four organizations that provide supported employment services. Findings indicate that each agency was driven by strong leadership and a cohesive vision and values with a history of innovation and change. Natural workplace supports were promoted in…

Explores work environment assessment when the employees are asked to offer their assessment. A sample survey is provided along with an explanation of its components and tips on analyzing the work environment data collected. (GR)