William M. Kahnweiler

Storytelling: An Instrument for Understanding the Dynamics of Corporate Relationships

An important aspect of corporate culture is its ability to influence relationship dynamics. This article examines how organizational stories can be used to study often unstated and perhaps unconscious codes for resolving conflicts, approaching decision-making, determining perceptions of positive and negative organizational forces, guiding role behavior, and the like. Stories are also defined, prior research is described, and the advantages and disadvantages in using this technique are discussed. We explain how our methodology can uncover comparative relationship patterns for human resource development professionals and business leaders in Fortune 500 companies.

The Effects of Cognitive Style and Media Richness on Commitment to Telework and Virtual Teams.

Abstract Telework (also known as telecommuting) and virtual teams (also known as virtual collaboration) are seen as strategic organizational innovations with potential benefits to individuals, business, and society. Despite the rapid growth of telework and virtual team innovations, very little empirical research has investigated factors associated with their success. Thus, practitioners can only speculate why they succeed or fail. This empirical study investigated telework and virtual team innovations drawing upon commitment, information richness, and cognitive style (mental self-government) theory. Results indicate that certain combinations of cognitive styles and media contribute to commitment to the telework function and to virtual teams. Consequently, specific recommendations are made for teleworker selection, development, and for the design of the telework environment.

Levels of desired, actual, and perceived control of employee involvement in decision making: An empirical investigation.

Using data obtained from 826 non-managers, this paper explores the effects of age, education and gender on the desired and actual levels of employee involvement in decision making. Analysis of five decision-making dimensions indicated that, though age and education appear to have an effect on desire for employees involvement in decision-making processes, gender does not appear to be an influence. A discussion of this studys implications for human resource practice and suggestions for future research are presented.

Organizational tension and occupational scripts: Stories from HR professionals and top executives

Abstract This study compared the biases and beliefs of top executives and HR professionals in Fortune 500 companies. The studys findings and theoretical framework were derived from the analysis of story components (e.g., heros, villains, turning points) of informant-generated tales of work place experiences. The findings indicate that the two informant groups differ with respect to values, beliefs, casual attributions, and priorities. Our work suggests that these differences may create a competitive undercurrent and communication breakdowns between top executives and the functions reporting to them. Implications for HR roles along with suggestions for theory development and further research on occupational scripts are offered.