Explains the history of the staffing pressures felt by the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City, and describes steps taken to reallocate personnel, the method of data-gathering and analysis, and the effects of the changes on the system. (JVP)

The author proposes an integration of Herzberg's two-factor theory of job satisfaction (job satisfaction/dissatisfaction as two separate, parallel continua) and traditional theory (job satisfaction/dissatisfaction sharing the same continuum) and a rationale for deciding which motivation methods to use for employees with differeing levels of…

Reports on the U.S. State Department's experiment with a new concept in management information systems for personnel resources--the Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Suggests that the HRIS approach may meet public executives' demands for accurate, rapid, responsive, and flexible information systems. (Author/JG)

Describes how to establish and operate a call center that handles customer service, telemarketing, collections, and other customer-focused areas. Discusses the advantages of a call center, the new opportunities that will arise as a result of emerging technologies, and the challenges of recruiting, training, and retaining personnel. (JOW)

Training policies and practices can most effectively be linked with organizational goals if human resource development and management are conducted strategically. This involves analysis of the internal and external environment and key stakeholders. (SK)

An action learning approach to help managers enhance learning capacity involved a performance management seminar, work by action learning sets, implementation of a new performance management instrument with mentoring by action learning facilitators, and evaluation. Survey responses from 392 participants revealed satisfaction with managerial…

Contends that wise management human resources decisions may yield direct payroll savings in fewer workers for compatible production; controllable personnel turnover; greater flexibility to achieve new and emergency jobs; low waste, reject and accident programs; and low sick absences. Systematic follow-up must be integral part of effort to achieve…

Virtual work teams scattered around the globe are becoming a feature of corporate workplaces. Although most people prefer face-to-face meetings and interactions, reality often requires telecommuting. (JOW)

Using the ratio of associates to partners as a measure of human asset leveraging, analysis of data from 312 law firms reveals that the ratio is related to business strategy, human resource management practices, organizational structure, and the competitiveness of the firm. (SK)

A majority of 195 Society of Human Resource Management members surveyed favored direct disclosure of a disability at or after a job interview, but a sizable minority recommended indirect disclosure prior to the interview. Most (57%) believed their organization provides a supportive environment for people with disabilities. (SK)

Reviews provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act that affect the public sector; examines in detail the concepts of reasonable accommodation and undue hardship in the act and in Equal Employment Opportunities Commission interpretations. (SK)

Ways to institutionalize ethics in government agencies include demonstrating moral leadership, making it a job qualification, training, establishing and enforcing a code, and including ethics in personnel management and performance appraisal. (SK)

Discusses aspects of a good system for library employee performance appraisal, stressing the importance of treating workers as adults and making the appraisal process a two-way exchange. The role of the line supervisor and how to deal with poor performance are also addressed. (MES)

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)

Discusses how some college maintenance managers are getting the most out of their tight maintenance budgets. Examples of cost-cutting measures are provided, including comparative shopping for cleaning chemicals, eliminating duplicate maintenance services for auxilliary units, motivating maintenance staff and employing students, and saving money…