1. The Sultanate of Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula with a total population of approximately two million. Young people below the age of 15 account for a large proportion (46 per cent) of the po pulation. According to studies carried out by various organizations, (i.e. World Bank, ECWA), it has been found that a majority of the population live in rural areas. 2. Before 1970, Oman had a great shortfall in most economic and social aspects. The dawn of development started after 1970, following Sultan Qaboos Bin Said's accession to the leadership and the launching of a broad plan to modernize and develop the country. 3. Oil is the main source of its economy. According to the Development Council statistics, the share of oil revenue in 1988 accounted for 79.6 per cent of the total. The oil net revenue was (993.6) million Rials Omani from a total of (1247.6) million Rials Omani. Actual development investment increased from (3341) million Rials Omani during the First Development Plan (1976-1980) to (7872) million Rials Omani during the Second Development Plan (1981-1985). The planned development investment during the Third Development vii plan (1986-1990) is estimated as (8164) million Rials Omani. One important factor to be noticed is the attempt of the government to diversify its strategy so as in the long run to depend on other sources rather than oil. Manufacturing is one of the main concerns of development for the government. Despite the dominance of the modern sector (in terms of contribution to the gross domestic product), Oman still remains a predominantly rural society. Up to 80% of the Omani population is estimated to live in rural areas. 4. The rural labour force has been steadily declining, emigrating to urban areas at a rate of 5000 people (mostly economically active males) annually. At present, Omanis form 30 percent of the total labour force employed in the modern sector; most of them occupy jobs at an unskilled and semi-skilled level. At present more than 200 thousand expatriates are working in the modern sector in Oman, which represents 70 percent of the total labour force in that sector. 5. The size of population and its rate of growth are obviously very important elements in the manpower assessment in the long term of the next 15 to 20 years. It becomes a more critical issue when the labour market patterns are not clearly known and defined. 6. Oman relies on a large number of non-Omani workers, essentially because human resource development (education and training of the population to produce an effective modern workforce) cannot keep pace with viii economic growth demands in terms of skilled manpower requirements. 7. The basic fact which should be considered is that manpower requirements are related proportionally to economic growth. In Oman, with late development, high priority was given to economic growth to build up the infrastructure and have a modern state. Economic planners, the executers of development projects and the contractors wish to see as high a rate of economic growth as possible. Although economic planners may acknowledge that reliance on non-Omani workers may present problems, they are not thought important enough to warrant any limitation of economic growth. Clearly then, the planning of human resources development in the Omani context lags behind general economic planning. 8. To cope with manpower requirements, due to the needs created by economic development, Education and Training plans were drawn up to form a human resource development plan. 9. No educational system existed before the 1970s. Only 3 primary schools were available with 900 students. No education for girls was provided. The present situation of education is the result of rapid development. An education ladder was formed which was based on a 6-3-3 structure. Technical and vocational education and training systems were established. The establishment operation of the university has added a new ix dimension in completing the educational system. In 1984/85, more than 225 thousand students were enrolled in educational institutions. 10. Despite the development of education in recent years, Oman is still not capable of meeting its manpower requirements internally. A large segment of the population is functionally illitrate, including a sizeable population of young males with a strong desire to share in the counry's new economic prosperity. The quality of education has also suffered considerably due to the rapid expansion in education. 11. Due to the great demand for labour and the shortage of Omani labour supply, manpower development has become an important issue. The Council of Education and Vocational Training under the Chairmanship of HM the Sultan Qaboos with 9 members at minister's level was formed in 1978 to set general policies of education and training in the context of manpower development. 12. The present trends in manpower development, whether from the education or training side, do not match with the long term objectives, set by the government, nor have they realized the potential to cope with future requirements. 13. This present study of manpower planning and development in Oman dicusses manpower development in relation to manpower planning. This research will analyse the past and present trends of manpower development and anticipate its effectiveness in the future. The manpower x development concept is discussed in terms of its objectives, manpower requirements and social demand. The discussion will highlight the main problems in the present system of manpower development: in the context of manpower planning in Oman. The system of manpower development is also analysed in terms of its relevance to, and possible conflict with the purpose of manpower development schemes. The present focus of such schemes is closely examined. 14. The main problems related to manpower development lie in: [1] The role of the technical and vocational education and training system and its performance in operating (a) The Vocational Education system run by the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY). (b) The Vocational Education System run by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MOSAL). [2] Social pressures from the student population in terms of their expectations on completing their general education versus the government policies 1 in having a sound output of manpower requirement T to fuf ill the country's needs. This create a conflict in the definition of objectives. [3] Lack of enrolment in vocational and training system due to the lack of vocational guidance, the social attitude towards it, and due to the closed xi pattern existing in technical education and training system, in not providing the student with access to further studies. This also affects manpower development schemes. [4] The unstable educational output in relation to manpower requirements. 15. The arguments are developed so 4ko propose a new model of manpower development for the future. This model aims to achieve a new target in producing an integration of educational and training concepts in manpower development. 16. In discussing the various hypotheses, and analysing the various concepts in comparis on with other countries, a new manpower development model will be proposed to meet the objectives and to overcome the above stated problems. This model aims to integrate manpower demands and educational and training outputs in relation to individual aspirations and manpower targets.

Training plays a key role in bridging employer skills needs and in raising the productivity of employees and individual firms. Many large organisations have long established in-house training programmes and the means for progressive personal development for employees. However, Smaller to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) have not mirrored the same. SMEs are less likely to provide off the job training to employees because of operational demands. There is a lack of structured approach to training within a SME. Despite the vast array of training programmes available to SMEs, very little has been done to tailor the training to the specific learning needs of SMEs. Web Based Training Environment (WeBTiE) is a tailored online training solution specific to a SMEs’ training needs. The portal within which online training is provided is the collaborative efforts of the Employer, Employee and Training Vendor. The portal encapsulates not only the learning content, but provides the learning support necessary to guide employees through the training and reinforce work-based practises with the use of a Community of Practice. Unlike many other training models the originality of this model is that it combines Pedagogy principles in the development of the training programme, along with e-learning model, Etivities for Structured On The Job Training. The generic nature of this model allows it to be adaptable for SMEs in a variety of industries and the tailoristic feature provides the flexibility necessary to permit the adaptability. This thesis focuses on the barriers SMEs face when attempting to train employees. By determining employee learning and training needs and establishing a ‘Learning Foundation’, can we move forward with the development of a training programme commissioned for SMEs. The work in this research is underpinned by learning theories and online learning and the application of these (adapted if necessary) in the context of the day-to-day constraints typical of SMEs.

Sammanfattning Syftet med studien var att undersöka den arbetspsykologiska vinsten i form av kontroll, stress och arbetstillfredsställelse av en utbildningsinsats med skiftlagsutveckling. En enkätundersökning genomfördes på ett stort industriföretag i Mellansverige. Totalt 65 personer svarade på enkäten, indelade i de som deltagit (experimentgrupp) och de som inte deltagit (kontrollgrupp) i utbildningen. Resultatet visade att experimentgruppen jämfört med kontrollgruppen skattade sin kontroll över arbetshastigheten högre. Likaså ansåg sig experimentgruppen bättre kunna förutsäga resultatet av sina beslut i arbetet än kontrollgruppen. Resultatet indikerade även en tendens till signifikant huvudeffekt av ålder på skattad stress; yngre kände större stöd i arbetet medan äldre kände att de kunde utnyttja sina färdigheter och talanger till fullo i arbetet. Nyckelord: Arbetsrelaterad kontroll, arbetsrelaterad stress, arbetstillfredsställelse, utbildning / Abstract The work psychology-related benefits of group training in a shift-going work team The objective of the study was to investigate whether team building-based training could improve work satisfaction, reduce stress, and increase perceived control of the work environment for a shift-going work team. A questionnaire study was performed at a large industrial company in central Sweden. 65 participants were divided into an experimental (participation in training) vs. a control (no participation in training group). The results showed that former compared to latter participants perceived a greater amount of control over their work, as well as estimated their ability to predict the results of their work decisions as higher. Concerning the perceived stress, younger compared to older were shown to experience more support whereas older vs. younger rated the ability to fully use skills and abilities as higher. Keywords: Work control, work stress, work satisfaction, training

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta de anÃlise da relaÃÃo entre as polÃticas de formaÃÃo de professores e os fundamentos da produÃÃo de conhecimento. De natureza bibliogrÃfica e documental, a investigaÃÃo objetiva compreender as mediaÃÃes teÃricas e histÃricas dessas duas categorias. Nesse sentido, intenta-se submeter Ãs polÃticas de formaÃÃo docente e seus princÃpios norteadores, assim como suas teorias do conhecimento subjacentes, ao crivo do materialismo histÃrico-dialÃtico e da filosofia da prÃxis, mormente em Marx, numa perspectiva ontolÃgica. Tal esforÃo permite maior compreensÃo da lÃgica que rege as polÃticas de formaÃÃo docente e a identificaÃÃo dos limites e possibilidades dessa categoria com vistas a contribuir para uma prÃxis educativa transformadora. Conclui que a formaÃÃo inicial de professores no contexto atual atende Ãs prerrogativas dos organismos internacionais e à valorizaÃÃo do capital, expressando-se frÃgil teÃrica e cientificamente. / This paper presents a proposal to analyze the relationship between teacher education policies and the fundamentals of knowledge production. Of bibliographic and documentary nature, the research aims to understand the theoretical and historical mediations of these two categories. In this sense, it is tried to submit to the policies of teacher training and its guiding principles, as well as its underlying theories of knowledge, to the sieve of historicaldialectical materialism and the philosophy of praxis, especially in Marx, in an ontological perspective. This effort allows a better understanding of the logic that governs teacher education policies and the identification of the limits and possibilities of this category with a view to contributing to a transformative educational praxis. It concludes that the initial formation of teachers in the current context attends to the prerogatives of international organizations and to the valorisation of capital, expressing itself fragile theoretically and scientifically.

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2016-12-01T12:12:55Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Evelyn Secco Faquin.pdf: 1928285 bytes, checksum: fc1e04e44d61edd3fa1a6eee1458b0a1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-01T12:12:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Evelyn Secco Faquin.pdf: 1928285 bytes, checksum: fc1e04e44d61edd3fa1a6eee1458b0a1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This thesis aimed at understanding the political-pedagogical dimension in the courses of Social Services of the State of Paraná University. Defining specific objectives a) contextualize how it handles vocational training in Social Work, with its legal foundations and political directions; b) map is structured as vocational training in Social Work in Public Higher Education Institutions of the State of Paraná; c) check from educational projects and curricula of undergraduate courses the elements that support the shaping of the political-pedagogical dimension of these. For construction we stop the discussion of education and University as political space par excellence that make the training process. Text looks us on vocational training and its political and pedagogical dimension by professional Ethical-Political Project. We reflect on the pedagogical projects of the courses from theoretical argument, based on the dialogue with authors of Education and Social Services, also presenting the research universe - the State Universities Paranaenses, more specifically, the social work courses in them offered. The research universe comprised eight courses of Social Service of Paraná State Universities, the Brazilian state with the largest number of public offerings of training for social workers. We have used the qualitative approach, conducting documentary research, from their pedagogical projects of the courses, so we found that the pedagogical projects have as a foundation the general context of the Brazilian university and therefore are permeated challenges; as the professional profile to be formed, they align to partially Curriculum Guidelines 1996 and showed a tendency to training geared to the labor market; the process of building these projects does not cover all the subjects involved in vocational training; and it was identified similarities between them / A presente tese teve como objetivo a compreensão da dimensão político-pedagógica nos cursos de Serviço Social das Universidades Estaduais do Paraná. Definindo como objetivos específicos a) contextualizar como se processa a formação profissional em Serviço Social, apresentando suas fundamentações legais e direcionamentos políticos; b) mapear como está estruturada a formação profissional em Serviço Social nas Instituições de Ensino Superior Públicas do estado do Paraná; c) verificar a partir dos projetos pedagógicos e currículos dos cursos de graduação os elementos que subsidiam a conformação da dimensão política-pedagógica destes. Para construção nos detemos à discussão da educação e Universidade enquanto espaços políticos por excelência que conformam os processos de formação profissional. Debruçamo-nos sobre a formação profissional e sua dimensão político-pedagógica parametrada pelo Projeto Ético-Político profissional. Tecemos reflexões acerca dos projetos pedagógicos dos cursos a partir de argumentação teórica, partindo da interlocução com autores da Educação e do Serviço Social, apresentando também o universo da pesquisa – as Universidades Estaduais Paranaenses, de modo mais específico, os cursos de Serviço Social nelas oferecidos. O universo da pesquisa compreendeu os oito cursos de Serviço Social das Universidades Estaduais do Paraná, estado brasileiro com o maior número de ofertas públicas de formação para Assistentes Sociais. Valemo-nos da abordagem qualitativa, realizando uma investigação documental, a partir dos respectivos projetos pedagógicos dos cursos, Assim, constatamos que os projetos pedagógicos têm como alicerce o contexto geral da Universidade brasileira e, portanto, são permeados de desafios; quanto ao perfil do profissional a ser formado, estes se alinham parcialmente às Diretrizes Curriculares de 1996 e apresentaram uma tendência à formação orientada para o mercado de trabalho; o processo de construção desses projetos não engloba a totalidade dos sujeitos envolvidos na formação profissional; bem como foi identificado similaridades entre eles

Este trabalho busca analisar os processos de educação dirigidos aos adolescentes em conflito com a lei em regime de privação de liberdade na Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), tendo como preocupação central a particularidade da formação por meio da escola – enquanto formação formal/regular – e da “formação para o trabalho” nesse ambiente. Os locais da realização da pesquisa de campo foram a Escola Senador Pasqualini da unidade Padre Cacique do Centro de Atendimento Socioeducativo (CASE-PC) e o Centro de Convivência (CECON) – local em que são realizadas as oficinas de “profissionalização”. Especificamente, esta pesquisa volta-se para os processos de formação desenvolvidos no interior de uma instituição de internação em regime fechado e a função que a escola e o trabalho têm nesses processos. Esta dissertação pretendeu também, verificar quais são as possibilidades e os limites de desenvolvimento de uma educação ampliada, enquanto formação humana omnilateral e politécnica. O método que fundamenta esta dissertação é o materialismo histórico-dialético, tendo nas categorias de totalidade, historicidade e contradição, o suporte para a condução da pesquisa. A metodologia articuladora da pesquisa foi o estudo de caso, tendo como técnicas de coleta de dados, o grupo focal, a entrevista semiestruturada e as anotações de campo. A principal constatação deste trabalho foi que os processos de formação da FASE-RS conduzem a uma aceitação tácita e naturalizada da forma de organização social, resultando em propostas que invariavelmente se reduzem a tentar “inculcar” ou “incutir” no pensamento dos adolescentes a ideologia da classe dominante. Os processos de formação da FASE-RS se reduzem a uma tentativa de fazer os adolescentes aceitarem a lógica do sistema capitalista, inviabilizando qualquer posicionamento crítico que possibilite aos adolescentes questionarem ou problematizarem a forma de organização social atual, ao qual são submetidos e sofrem graves consequências. Com isso, estes processos de formação se restringem a alimentar uma esperança de futura inserção no mercado de trabalho e afirmar que o adolescente tem condições e precisa se esforçar para se inserir nesta sociedade. / This work seeks to analyze the processes of education directed to adolescents in conflict with the law under the deprivation of liberty in the Socio-Educational Services Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), and as a central concern of special education through the school - while formal training / regular - and "job training" in this environment. The locations of the survey field were Senador Pasqualini School Unit Chief Priest of the Center for Socio- Educational Services (CASE-PC) and Social Center (CECON) - where they are held workshops of “professionalization”. Specifically, this research turns to the formation processes developed within a detention institution in a closed regime and the role that school and work have these processes. This dissertation also wanted to verify what are the possibilities and limits of development of an expanded education, while training and human omnilateral polytechnic. The method underlying this dissertation is the historical and dialectical materialism, and the categories of totality, historicity and contradiction, support for the conduct of research. The methodology was the organizer of the research case study, with the techniques of data collection, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and field notes. The main finding of this study was that the processes of formation of the FASE-RS lead to a tacit acceptance of and naturalized form of social organization, resulting in proposals that invariably boil down to trying to “impress” or “instill” in the minds of adolescents ideology the ruling class. The formation processes of FASE-RS are reduced to an attempt to get adolescents to accept the logic of the capitalist system, preventing any critical position that enables teens to question or problematize the current form of social organization, which are submitted and suffer serious consequences. Thus, these formation processes are restricted to feeding a hope for future integration into the labor market and said that the adolescent is able and must strive to enter in this society.

Este trabalho busca analisar os processos de educação dirigidos aos adolescentes em conflito com a lei em regime de privação de liberdade na Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), tendo como preocupação central a particularidade da formação por meio da escola – enquanto formação formal/regular – e da “formação para o trabalho” nesse ambiente. Os locais da realização da pesquisa de campo foram a Escola Senador Pasqualini da unidade Padre Cacique do Centro de Atendimento Socioeducativo (CASE-PC) e o Centro de Convivência (CECON) – local em que são realizadas as oficinas de “profissionalização”. Especificamente, esta pesquisa volta-se para os processos de formação desenvolvidos no interior de uma instituição de internação em regime fechado e a função que a escola e o trabalho têm nesses processos. Esta dissertação pretendeu também, verificar quais são as possibilidades e os limites de desenvolvimento de uma educação ampliada, enquanto formação humana omnilateral e politécnica. O método que fundamenta esta dissertação é o materialismo histórico-dialético, tendo nas categorias de totalidade, historicidade e contradição, o suporte para a condução da pesquisa. A metodologia articuladora da pesquisa foi o estudo de caso, tendo como técnicas de coleta de dados, o grupo focal, a entrevista semiestruturada e as anotações de campo. A principal constatação deste trabalho foi que os processos de formação da FASE-RS conduzem a uma aceitação tácita e naturalizada da forma de organização social, resultando em propostas que invariavelmente se reduzem a tentar “inculcar” ou “incutir” no pensamento dos adolescentes a ideologia da classe dominante. Os processos de formação da FASE-RS se reduzem a uma tentativa de fazer os adolescentes aceitarem a lógica do sistema capitalista, inviabilizando qualquer posicionamento crítico que possibilite aos adolescentes questionarem ou problematizarem a forma de organização social atual, ao qual são submetidos e sofrem graves consequências. Com isso, estes processos de formação se restringem a alimentar uma esperança de futura inserção no mercado de trabalho e afirmar que o adolescente tem condições e precisa se esforçar para se inserir nesta sociedade. / This work seeks to analyze the processes of education directed to adolescents in conflict with the law under the deprivation of liberty in the Socio-Educational Services Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), and as a central concern of special education through the school - while formal training / regular - and "job training" in this environment. The locations of the survey field were Senador Pasqualini School Unit Chief Priest of the Center for Socio- Educational Services (CASE-PC) and Social Center (CECON) - where they are held workshops of “professionalization”. Specifically, this research turns to the formation processes developed within a detention institution in a closed regime and the role that school and work have these processes. This dissertation also wanted to verify what are the possibilities and limits of development of an expanded education, while training and human omnilateral polytechnic. The method underlying this dissertation is the historical and dialectical materialism, and the categories of totality, historicity and contradiction, support for the conduct of research. The methodology was the organizer of the research case study, with the techniques of data collection, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and field notes. The main finding of this study was that the processes of formation of the FASE-RS lead to a tacit acceptance of and naturalized form of social organization, resulting in proposals that invariably boil down to trying to “impress” or “instill” in the minds of adolescents ideology the ruling class. The formation processes of FASE-RS are reduced to an attempt to get adolescents to accept the logic of the capitalist system, preventing any critical position that enables teens to question or problematize the current form of social organization, which are submitted and suffer serious consequences. Thus, these formation processes are restricted to feeding a hope for future integration into the labor market and said that the adolescent is able and must strive to enter in this society.

Este trabalho busca analisar os processos de educação dirigidos aos adolescentes em conflito com a lei em regime de privação de liberdade na Fundação de Atendimento Socioeducativo do Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), tendo como preocupação central a particularidade da formação por meio da escola – enquanto formação formal/regular – e da “formação para o trabalho” nesse ambiente. Os locais da realização da pesquisa de campo foram a Escola Senador Pasqualini da unidade Padre Cacique do Centro de Atendimento Socioeducativo (CASE-PC) e o Centro de Convivência (CECON) – local em que são realizadas as oficinas de “profissionalização”. Especificamente, esta pesquisa volta-se para os processos de formação desenvolvidos no interior de uma instituição de internação em regime fechado e a função que a escola e o trabalho têm nesses processos. Esta dissertação pretendeu também, verificar quais são as possibilidades e os limites de desenvolvimento de uma educação ampliada, enquanto formação humana omnilateral e politécnica. O método que fundamenta esta dissertação é o materialismo histórico-dialético, tendo nas categorias de totalidade, historicidade e contradição, o suporte para a condução da pesquisa. A metodologia articuladora da pesquisa foi o estudo de caso, tendo como técnicas de coleta de dados, o grupo focal, a entrevista semiestruturada e as anotações de campo. A principal constatação deste trabalho foi que os processos de formação da FASE-RS conduzem a uma aceitação tácita e naturalizada da forma de organização social, resultando em propostas que invariavelmente se reduzem a tentar “inculcar” ou “incutir” no pensamento dos adolescentes a ideologia da classe dominante. Os processos de formação da FASE-RS se reduzem a uma tentativa de fazer os adolescentes aceitarem a lógica do sistema capitalista, inviabilizando qualquer posicionamento crítico que possibilite aos adolescentes questionarem ou problematizarem a forma de organização social atual, ao qual são submetidos e sofrem graves consequências. Com isso, estes processos de formação se restringem a alimentar uma esperança de futura inserção no mercado de trabalho e afirmar que o adolescente tem condições e precisa se esforçar para se inserir nesta sociedade. / This work seeks to analyze the processes of education directed to adolescents in conflict with the law under the deprivation of liberty in the Socio-Educational Services Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), and as a central concern of special education through the school - while formal training / regular - and "job training" in this environment. The locations of the survey field were Senador Pasqualini School Unit Chief Priest of the Center for Socio- Educational Services (CASE-PC) and Social Center (CECON) - where they are held workshops of “professionalization”. Specifically, this research turns to the formation processes developed within a detention institution in a closed regime and the role that school and work have these processes. This dissertation also wanted to verify what are the possibilities and limits of development of an expanded education, while training and human omnilateral polytechnic. The method underlying this dissertation is the historical and dialectical materialism, and the categories of totality, historicity and contradiction, support for the conduct of research. The methodology was the organizer of the research case study, with the techniques of data collection, focus groups, semi-structured interviews and field notes. The main finding of this study was that the processes of formation of the FASE-RS lead to a tacit acceptance of and naturalized form of social organization, resulting in proposals that invariably boil down to trying to “impress” or “instill” in the minds of adolescents ideology the ruling class. The formation processes of FASE-RS are reduced to an attempt to get adolescents to accept the logic of the capitalist system, preventing any critical position that enables teens to question or problematize the current form of social organization, which are submitted and suffer serious consequences. Thus, these formation processes are restricted to feeding a hope for future integration into the labor market and said that the adolescent is able and must strive to enter in this society.

Child and Adolescent caregivers are rarely the focus of research and/or trauma-focused or informed models when working with traumatized children (Baynard, Englund, & Rozelle, 2001; Chapman, Dube, & Anda, 2007). It has been shown that use of caregivers in the treatment of children who have suffered trauma can have a significant impact on not only the child, but also reduce the trauma symptoms of the caregivers themselves (Cohen, Mannarino, & Staron, 2006). The purpose of this study is to critically review the empirical research of trauma-focused and trauma-informed trainings and treatment models for children who have suffered some form of trauma and whose caregiver is included in the treatment. The outcomes of trauma-focused models will be examined in terms of its purpose, intervention, facilitation, adaptability and modification. Implications for further research and application are drawn.

Self-managing teams (SMTs) are receiving increasing attention from organizations striving for continuous improvement and searching for innovative ways to get their employees involved and empowered. More and more organizations are realizing the significant impact these teams have on quality, productivity, the social circles, worker esteem, and profitability. Consultants and researchers have also paid significant attention to the concept of SMTs, focusing on many aspects of these teams. However, little research has been directed toward the training needs of former supervisors, who, by a plant transitioning to SMTs, have now to take up the role of being coaches of the teams. They invariably are caught in the middle between empowering their teams and satisfying the needs of upper management. The confusion about their new roles may lead to unsuccessful implementation of the teams. This research is an attempt to answer questions related to the training issues of leaders of self-managing teams. The purpose of this study is to help managers and consultants further understand the issues, concern, problems and difficulties faced by the coaches of SMTs. The case study sight for this research was the AT&T plant in Richmond. Some of the outputs of this study are: prioritized lists of the issues and concerns of the coaches at AT&T, a simple cause-effect analysis, important issues and solutions proposed by the coaches, and a list of recommendations based on the overall analysis. / Master of Science