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In the 1960s and 1970s working women began to increase significantly and by the 1980s over half of America′s wives worked outside the home. This social revolution has placed a major burden on women and the associated conflicts have been researched, analysed and publicized, generally from the female viewpoint. However, few studies have also included the male viewpoint. Therefore compares how feelings of guilt, resulting from work‐family conflicts, differ or are similar between husbands and wives and can aid in the counselling of employees in the workplace who are troubled with guilt. The effective counselling of the human resource in today′s organization is a must. The effective utilization of individuals in organizations thus requires a better understanding of the effect of guilt on their personal perceptions, motivations, and behaviours.

Most serious organizational change efforts of the last two decades have focused on change within groups or the socio‐technical system. Hard data on change efforts are both limited and present a mixed picture of the effectiveness of these efforts, particularly over an extended period of time. Presents ideas, notions and concepts about the role of the individual within organizations which may help to explain some of the failures and increase the probability of successful change. Like individuals, organizations consist of body (participants′ common goals, beliefs of background), and spirit (individuals′ ideas, assumption and thought processes). The artificial system of an organization (spirit) is man‐made and owes its continued existence to the ideas, assumptions and thought processes in the minds of the individual within the organization. Consistent with this notion, develops the concept that for real long‐term organizational change to occur, the systems existing within the minds of individuals must be altered. Further, proposes that language, values, norms and ethics are the factors which hold an organization together and, since these factors are developed within individuals, they must be accounted for in change efforts. Also focuses on leaders and managers and their roles in organizational change. Specific characteristics of leaders which enable them to promote and foster change are identified and discussed. It is noted that for leaders to be successful they must (1) free themselves from themselves, (2) free themselves from the artificial systems of organizations, and (3) take specific responsibility for their actions.

Analyzes recent thought relating to the forced restructuring of businesses. In general, businesses are unable to compete in the new global environment in their present state because of worldwide competition; national changes involving mergers, bank failures and company takeovers. Companies which can incorporate a team philosophy into their organizations will have a better chance of surviving in the year 2000. Details the new and more stringent requirements that are placed on leadership and the empowerment of teams through leadership. Focuses on information as to how to choose the right leadership and teams. Uses significant examples of businesses which have successfully restructured to illustrate the importance of fostering a leadership style which will advocate teamwork.

Explains the development of employee empowerment from its beginnings as American academic research to its successful adaptation by the Japanese management and later US management. In its present state employee empowerment or participation flourishes in many different methods of management and takes many different forms in its practice. Examines contingent factors affecting implementation of participative management practices and points out the various dilemmas to avoid.

Wonders whether companies actually have employees best interests at heart across physical, mental and spiritual spheres. Posits that most organizations ignore their workforce – not even, in many cases, describing workers as assets! Describes many studies to back up this claim in theis work based on the 2002 Employment Research Unit Annual Conference, in Cardiff, Wales.