Within a system, change affects stakeholders differently. Consequently, when making changes in the mental health system, mental health agencies should expect varied reactions from staff, community members, consumers, and families. Since misunderstandings can stymie efforts to implement evidence-based and promising practices, it is important to…

This guide is designed to help districts and schools evaluate reform efforts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including School Improvement Grants. It includes practical, how-to tips for conducting program evaluations, whether one takes a "do-it-yourself" approach or seeks outside assistance to evaluate reform…

Based on the work of the National Council on Research in Child Welfare (NCRCW), this handbook is designed to help social service agency executives cope with changing times for child welfare agencies, strengthen traditional services to meet today's needs, and analyze and plan for the future. The manual aims to demystify quality improvement theory…

People in an organization have explicit (codifiable) and tacit (noncodifiable) knowledge about customers, products, processes, programs, mistakes, and successes. The process of knowledge management within camp organizations includes creating and collecting internal and external information sources, knowledge exchange among staff, and supportive…

The following strategies are presented for minimizing the effects of facility manager turnover on the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program: develop a transition plan; pass on knowledge; become a learning organization; become an employer of choice; enhance customers' confidence through training managers; highlight star facility managers;…

Based on informal discussions with personnel at selected federal agencies and private sector organizations and on additional research, this publication addresses issues and problems of software maintenance and suggests actions and procedures which can help software maintenance organizations meet the growing demands of maintaining existing systems.…

Strategic planning models seek order in a disorderly world. However, chaos science offers a language of concepts to discern deeper patterns in organizational life that appears out of control. Many of these concepts apply to higher education institutions. Interpretation of chaos theory principles suggests five tools for making high-leverage change…

Discusses how camps can survive by changing their marketing approach, organizational structure, and programming to meet the needs of the community. Profiles Wyman Center, a residential camp near Saint Louis, Missouri, that has prospered as a result of breaking with tradition and redefining the terms "camp" and "customer." (LP)

Alumni directors can bring creative ideas to traditional tasks by taking a new look at the problem, being aware of personal creative peaks, seeking perspectives outside the office staff, acknowledging that creativity is an attitude, putting new ideas to work, and having fun. (MSE)

This report presents a model state legislative bill to provide for the special needs of gifted and talented students. The model bill utilizes a "best practices" framework and attempts to be fiscally responsible and provide maximum flexibility while meeting the needs of gifted and talented students. The model legislation itself begins with a…

This article argues that, while college and university programming for leadership development may depend initially on the creativity of a few supporters, such programming should also be positioned in a unit within the institution that has the resources and support to nurture it over the long term. (MSE)

The management of innovation in instruction in English as a second language can benefit from the experience and techniques of management in the world of commerce as well as from theories and procedures in education. A systematic approach to the management of innovation emphasizes the importance of clearly defined objectives, evaluation that…

Argues that to make improvements in sponsored research administration, it is necessary to understand that: it is a system of interdependent components, and improvement requires systematic, highly integrated methods and a holistic view of the role of research administration in the larger research system. Provides a framework for…

In July 1993, DePaul University integrated its information technology and service functions under a new division of University Planning and Information Technology, consolidating formerly fragmented services to achieve a unified direction for information technology closely aligned with university goals. This case study discusses the framework,…

This workbook addresses key issues in the design of an overall strategic planning process and the subsequent implementation process for public and nonprofit organizations. The workbook is divided into two sections. Part 1 presents an overview of the strategic planning and implementation process and the benefits to be gained by using it. The…