Personnel directors (N=34) responded to a mailed adjective checklist describing the ideal secretary. This list contained eight adjectives cxorresponding to each of Holland's six vocationally-related personality traits (Realistic, Social, Investigative, Enterprising, Conventional, and Artistic) and eight feminine and eight masculine adjectives from…

In a time when job opportunities are changing, the opinions of those who hire and supervise psychologists are important. To determine employer preferences in psychologist selection, 105 Philadelphia administrators completed a survey (39% response) rating the importance of various functions, areas of knowledge, and personal characteristics for…

A large portion of the business community has limited and/or inaccurate knowledge about marketing and distributive education (MDE). If MDE begins meeting the adult training and development needs of industry, recognition of MDE as a viable training program should emerge. With the proper organizational structure and delivery system, adult MDE can be…

The attitudes of parents and peers toward handicaps, particularly epilepsy, play an important part in determining how debilitating the handicap may actually be. This project compared attitudes of employers toward epilepsy in the early 1960's with their attitudes in the current decade. As a control for possible generalized shifts in employer…

Analyzes help-wanted advertisements for editorial personnel in "Editor & Publisher" from 1920 to 1980. Indicates that the content of job ads has not changed significantly over the 60-year period and that employers are more concerned with journalism skills than with professional values. (MM)

A hypothetical organization chart was adopted to examine the relative worth of five positions and pay differentials as a function of rater's sex, money ethic endorsement (belief that money is good), and job incumbent's sex. The study explored the "Matthew Effect," the tendency of people to be willing to pay more for the highest position…

A study explored the motivational patterns of public relations (P.R.) professionals and the qualities sought in new employees by these professionals. A representative sample of public relations professionals was surveyed with a questionnaire that included Likert scales of motivational statements and skills sought. Common factor analysis with…

A corporate perspective on the general education competencies expected of middle management and technical personnel is provided and responded to in these three papers. First, Rita Meyer presents results from a study conducted by West Virginia Northern Community College to obtain the views of corporate managers on the general education…

Investigations conducted by Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) indicate that introductory computer courses for business students should emphasize the elimination of "computer phobia" through the provision of hands-on experience. In a survey of over 160 area businesses, SFCC found that 53% of the respondents ranked hands-on experience as the…

To determine which communication skills employers in business and industry perceive as important for employees, a questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of personnel directors in business and industry in the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Of the questionnaires mailed, 89 were returned (29.3% response rate). Analysis of the responses…

A study examined how managers report handling conflict, in comparison with their subordinates' ratings. The model used includes two dimensions, concern for self and concern for others, with five interpersonal conflict-handling styles: Avoiding, Dominating, Compromising, Integrating, and Obliging. Data were gathered using the Rahim Organizational…

A study examined the status of women in the creative departments of advertising agencies. In November 1987, questionnaires were sent to the creative directors of the 196 member agencies of the Adcraft Club of Detroit (the largest advertising club in the nation). Sixty-four questionnaires were returned. Answers and comments from the directors…

Two articles present industry and higher education viewpoints of education's role. The industrial author states that education must (1) change faculty and student attitudes, (2) teach about actual industrial practice, (3) teach business concepts, and (4) improve the quality of its product. The higher education author argues that education must…

In a survey of 131 engineering students, 57% rated their communication skills average, 66% of 22 employers felt they were below average. Their perceptions of the engineering curriculum also differed. Ways to revitalize curriculum and better align industry and academia were proposed. (SK)

A study examined the uncertainty levels and types reported by supervisors and employees at three hierarchical levels of an organization: first-line supervisors, full-time employees, and part-time employees. It investigated differences in uncertainty-reduction strategies employed by these three hierarchical groups. The 61 subjects who completed…