In the past several years, evaluation researchers and practitioners have become concerned about the apparent failure to utilize evaluation information. A simplified model of decision making is presented, in which the decision maker is confronted with a situation requiring a choice, generates potential solutions, assesses the probabilities that a…

Discusses the importance of participatory management in early childhood programs to achieve trust and commitment to organizational goals as well as to meet individual needs. Provides a framework for understanding shared decision making by examining types of decisions in the early childhood setting and levels of participation. Suggests strategies…

Describes various organizational structures and models, presents matrix management as an alternative to traditional hierarchical structures, and suggests matrix management as an appropriate organizational alternative for academic libraries. Benefits that are discussed include increased flexibility, a higher level of professional independence, and…

Research indicates that the role of information can be ambiguous in the decision-making process. Because relevance can be a problem with respect to information used in decision making, organizations should strive to achieve a linkage between flows of information and the making of specific decisions. Information flow between organizations and their…

Scholars studying organizational communication tend to feel that all organizational problems are rooted in communication, but it is difficult to diagnose the particular problems of an organization without an explicit model of what constitutes a healthy organization. Organizational effectiveness is goal-related, multidimensional, perceived…

Identifies a core set of leadership qualities, and prescribes observable, measurable, and learnable behaviors for each. A review of the following major leadership themes is presented: power-influence research, trait research, behavior research, situation research, excellence, quality, empowerment, ethics, and vision. (Contains seven references.)…

Reviews some approaches to organizational effectiveness suggested by organizational theorists, reports on the applications of these theories in libraries, develops some hypotheses regarding the assessment of performance in libraries, and describes a model which synthesizes some of the approaches. A 52-item reference list is attached. (Author/JL)

The purpose of this analysis is to describe the research base that undergirds the emerging concept of learning-centered leadership. We begin with our definition of leadership. Leadership is "the process of influencing others to achieve mutually agreed upon purposes for the organization" (Patterson, 1993, p. 3). Next, we make a number of…

Public library effectiveness efforts are placed within the context of theoretical and empirical research on organizational effectiveness. The construct, measures, and determinants of public library effectiveness are investigated, and a possible model of the determinants of public library output measures is presented. (Author/EM)

Research in organizational development and ecological psychology has demonstrated the importance of viewing organizations from a systems perspective. Organizational innovations are planned, designed, and implemented in increasingly complex and dynamic ecosystems. This paper presents a model of organizational change which was developed using a…

Drawing from a review of the literature and on-site observations, this paper sets forth a comprehensive framework for organizational renewal within the community college. Part 1 focuses on the adaptation of organizational life cycle theory to community colleges. Building upon a broadened definition of human development and the related hierarchy of…

The rate of turnover among community college chief executive officers (CEO's) is high, but the effects of administrator succession on organizational effectiveness has received little scholarly attention. To address this, a theory of community college CEO succession was derived from an analysis of case study data gathered at four locally governed…

Community-based organizations (CBOs) have been an integral part of the employment and training programs of the past two decades and have provided a wide variety of services to youth and adults alike. The vast differences between different CBOs make it impossible to draw definitive, generalizable conclusions about them. It appears, however, that…

Community colleges are democracy's colleges in the sense that the humanistic, inclusive, and flexible ideas at their core are democratic in tone and substance. Although these core ideas have not changed over time, the external pressures that shape program emphases, organizational structures, and community relations have. These forces include the…

Strategies for designing effective professional development programs for research librarians are discussed, focusing on competencies of librarians and benefits to the organization. An internship model that outlines necessary components in the context of quality management and effectiveness is offered. (26 references) (EA)