Gary F. Kohut

Dimensions of work satisfaction as predictors of commitment type

This study of hospital nurses (n = 154) examined the influence of dimensions of work satisfaction on types of organizational commitment. Significant results were found for the two affective commitment types tested but not for the instrumental type evaluated. The results indicate that satisfaction with professional status was a significant predictor of moral commitment. Dissatisfaction with organizational policies, autonomy, and professional status were significant predictors of alienative commitment. None of the dimensions of work satisfaction were predictors of calculative commitment. The results of this study suggest that understanding how various factors impact the nature and the form of an individuals organizational commitment is worth the effort. If managers do not know what causes an attitude to take on a particular form, they cannot accurately predict what behavior might follow.

Strategic communication through the world wide web: an empirical model of effectiveness in the ceo's letter to shareholders

Many organizations are devoting enormous amounts of financial and human resources to improve corporate communications. Among the many forms of communication produced by firms, the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) letter to shareholders is perhaps the most strategic in conveying the well‐being and future direction of the enterprise. These letters have become even more visible with the advent of World Wide Web and its use as a primary forum for communicating the CEO’s message. Surprisingly, there has been little research into dimensions that characterize the effectiveness of the CEO’s letter and how this communication may benefit the overall enterprise in terms of improved financial position. Utilizing both theoretic and practical perspectives as well as the web‐based letters of prominent organizations, this study frames CEO’s letter effectiveness (CLE) along dimensions of credibility, efficacy, commitment, and responsibility. These first‐order constructs appear to be statistically coaligned by a second‐order construct of CLE. In turn, CLE is shown to be directly associated with favourable financial performance in terms of share price and trading activity. This study provides a useful framework for assessing strategic communication through the CEO’s letter and for operationalizing a key dependent variable in future studies related to strategic corporate communications through digital media.

Designing electronic use policies to enhance employee perceptions of fairness and to reduce cyberloafing: An empirical test of justice theory

Organizations are attempting to curtail cyberloafing or employee use of company Internet and email systems for non-work purposes by implementing electronic use policies, but their design is based on anecdotal support instead of theory or empirical research. Using procedural justice theory, we propose policies containing signed versus implied consent, for cause versus periodic monitoring, zero tolerance or progressive discipline versus managerial discretion in disciplinary procedures, and appeals to peers or management versus no appeals will improve employee perceptions of policy fairness and thus, decrease cyberloafing. Results from two experiments and a field study found that zero tolerance, progressive discipline, and appeal processes were related to higher perceptions of policy fairness while periodic monitoring was related to less cyberloafing.

Peer Observation of Teaching: Perceptions of the Observer and the Observed

While peer observation of teaching is regarded as an important part of a faculty members promotion and tenure portfolio, little has been reported on its usefulness. Results from this study indicate that both observers and observees value the peer observation process, are neutral about the adequacy of observer training, use a variety of observation instruments but favor the written narrative, and believe their peer observation instruments are an effective measure of teaching. Although observers feel more stress about peer observations than observees, both groups experience minimal stress in participating in observations. Both groups also believe that peer observation reports are valid and useful.

Evidence of Effective Teaching: Perceptions of Peer Reviewers

Abstract The use of peers in the evaluation of teaching is part of a larger trend in postsecondary education toward a more systematic assessment of classroom performance. Many scholars believe that certain aspects of teaching can be assessed only by classroom observation. This study examines the use that peer reviewers make of teaching products, especially peer observation reports, during the promotion and tenure review process. Results indicate that peer observation reports are seen as an important component in evaluating teaching effectiveness, though perhaps not the best indicator of effective teaching. Despite flaws in peer observation instruments, the results from classroom observation are seen as valid and are used in deliberations about faculty teaching performance.

Shared Teaching Models for Business Communication in a Research Environment

Shared teaching, also known as team teaching, is an innovative way to balance teaching and research. Shared teaching benefits students by providing the perspec tive of two or more professors in one class. Such an approach also benefits profes sors by giving them more concentrated time for their research. A review of the lit erature on the topic and examination of two distinct shared teaching models show that shared teaching has advantages and challenges for both faculty and students and is a viable option for reallocating resources.

An Assessment of Computerized Text Editing Programs

Writers and editors have always worked under an uneasy truce. Whether corrections come from a professional editor with a publishing company or a co-worker, most writers appreciate improved quality, but also identify with &dquo;their&dquo; own style. Producing &dquo;final&dquo; copy straight from the word processor would solve that problem. With the myriad functions the computer serves for the average businessperson, it is no surprise that programmers have developed tools to help improve business writing. Spell check programs were quickly added to the basic word processing programs, and are now available in even the least expensive typewriters. Word processing and spell checking established their usefulness so easily that virtually all business writers