This paper chronicles ongoing alterations to the organizational structure of the acquisitions department at Pennsylvania State University using the tenets of total quality management (TQM). The movement toward reorganizing for process improvement began in late 1992 when the associate dean of libraries called the acquisitions department together to…

In July 1992, a follow-up study was conducted of 412 former students of Johnson County Community College (JCCC), in Kansas, who had earned a career program degree or certificate, or had been identified as leaving with marketable skills, in 1987-88. Due to obsolete addresses, and other factors, the list of potential respondents was reduced to 288.…

In November 1991, a follow-up study was conducted of 514 former students of Johnson County Community College (JCCC), in Kansas, who had earned a career program degree or certificate in 1990-91, or had been identified as leaving the college with marketable skills. Of these, 480 completed mail or telephone surveys for a response rate of 93%.…

This paper, one in a series about the priorities of the professoriate, examines work-family issues as they affect faculty recruitment, retention, and productivity. Following a brief discussion of changing work-force demographics, the first part of the paper examines the structure of an academic career, focusing particularly on junior faculty and…

The relationships among Catholic school teachers' commitment, job satisfaction, and work environment are examined. A survey of full-time Catholic elementary school teachers in a large Catholic diocese yielded a 68 percent response rate (n=655). Findings classified three groups of teachers on the basis of three sources of commitment: commitment to…

Diverse opinions are held by workers, union officials, and labor researchers about the importance of the quality of working life to workers. Major issues in this debate focus on the following questions: (1) Is there a workers' movement to improve the quality of working life? (2) Do workers seek meaning and self-fulfillment in their jobs? (3) Can…

A survey of all 1,000 Kansas State University faculty was conducted in August 1975 by the KSU chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Results from the 459 usable returns are detailed in statistical and narrative form. Ninety percent of the faculty indicated high degrees of liking their positions. Although a number of areas…

This publication summarizes the proceedings of the Conference of Union Officials on Issues Related to Labor-Management Cooperation in Quality of Worklife (QWL) Improvement Efforts (March 1979) and subsequently treats issues that emerged in more detail. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to QWL. A summary of the Washington, D.C. conference…

This study investigates "burn-out" and turnover among workers in child care settings. A total of 95 persons working in 32 child care centers in San Francisco were interviewed by telephone. One-fifth of the centers in the city were represented and both public and private centers were included. Each category of center was proportinately…

The report describes a study designed to analyze nurses' management duties and to identify their tasks in planning, organizing, staffing. leading, communication, decision making, and controlling. A total of 117 supervisory nurses and unit managers from four Western Michigan short-term general hospitals in the 410-540 bed range participated in the…

A 2002 staff satisfaction survey was administered to 100 sixth form colleges, general further education colleges, and beacon and specialist colleges in England. A questionnaire containing 38 positive statements concerning 6 broad areas one's own role; the staff of the college; style of senior management; communication; customers, including…

Current evidence suggests emerging shortages of nurses available or willing to fill some vacant positions in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care. Total employment of registered nurses (RNs) per capita and the national unemployment rate for RNs have declined, and providers from around the country report growing difficulty recruiting and…

This study investigated the extent to which organizational and personal variables are related to work environments characterized by teamwork and collaboration on the one hand, or interpersonal conflict and stress on the other. The study examined major organizational features of 120 public and private research universities, their administrative…

An Australian study explored the implications of being a rural academic; distinguishing features of rural academics' work; perceptions of rural academics held by themselves and others; and contributions rural academics make to their institutions, disciplines, and communities. Interviews were conducted with 24 faculty members from 2 Australian…

Explores the impact of the social and academic diversity of the class on teachers' perspectives about their schools as workplaces. Data from 370 Israeli secondary teachers indicate that classroom diversity is correlated negatively with average academic ability and positively with class size and discipline problems. (SLD)