The purpose of this discussion is to examine the response of various organizations to Affirmative Action mandates, and to point up instances of practices which have met with both success and near failure. Since colleges and universities have seemingly grown more like big business and industry, they have become more political in their orientation and values. Extensive use was made of the literature, including news media, government documents, and journals; on-the-spot visitations to various firms advertising vacancies and carrying the "AA/EEOE-Minorities and Women Encouraged to Apply" labels; examining responses to written applications sent to firms advertised in the "Chronicle of Higher Education" and the "Affirmative Action Register"; and collecting data from selected businesses, industries and colleges in Texas. The results of the various investigative sources tend to show that administrators and managers, while advertising as an open system, use hiring practices that are primarily closed, and that the 'old boy' network still prevails. The most astounding findings involve the feuding, procrastinating, and litigation with the federal government and the continuous cries of "reverse discrimination,""racial quotas," and "unqualified minorities both females and males." (Author/BE)