The Family to Family Initiative of the Annie E. Casey Foundation has encouraged states to reconceptualize, redesign, and reconstruct their foster care systems. By 1996, the Foundation had selected and funded five states and six counties in two other states to develop family-centered, neighborhood-based family foster care systems within one or more…

The author highlights the enormity of waste due to ineffective business meetings, and describes techniques behavioral scientists have developed to cope with this perennial problem. A case study dramatizes how the techniques are applied. (Author)

The article presents a theoretical analysis of the concept of reflection. The author argues in favour of the necessity of conceiving the concept of reflection in a broad sense, and not using the concept in the meaning of introspection. To grasp reflection in its complexity and as a core process in organisational learning it is necessary to…

Examines some of the conditions under which organizations come to adopt new objectives. (Author/RK)

This case study documents the evolution and implementation of the School Self Improvement Project, an experimental program carried out in two New York City high schools by the Coalition of Business and Education Collaboration (CBEC). Established in the mid 1970s, the program was one of nine at sites chosen by the Documentation and Technical…

This case study explores the use of survey feedback--an organizational development technique--in an educational field setting. A version of survey feedback was used with an alternative high school to assist the staff in defining problems and in developing and implementing change strategies. Based on a perspective that focuses attention on the…

This book presents interactive problem-solving situations based on the principles of Total Quality Management. Following the introductory chapter, the second chapter describes the two stages of the problem-solving process: (1) analysis of the problem and its causes, and (2) identification of a solution. Each stage is comprised of three…

Although simulation is among the least common of the many methods consultants employ to stimulate team development, realistic simulation can help in the diagnosis of management teams. Simulations fill a gap in the repertoire of data collection methods for organizational diagnosis and development by affording an opportunity for direct observation…

Describes an ongoing reengineering project at Yuan Ze University (Taiwan) that has brought about significant change by providing integrated information services to the campus community. Discusses the change process, obstacles encountered, and strategies used to overcome them. Obstacles to the change process were not predominantly technological,…

Describes one academic library's experiences in developing a new management structure based on teams to cope with increasing internal and external changes. The views of a team leader, team member, a new librarian, and the director are presented, and benefits and problems of the new structure are presented. (Contains 16 references.) (EAM)

Local school districts must strengthen their innovative capacity in order to respond effectively to the problems facing them. Success depends on both an organization's technical capacity to match problems with appropriate solutions and its political capacity to move an innovation through the process from adoption to incorporation. Research shows…

Eight approaches to organizational change and problem solving that use large-scale events and involve a broad range of stakeholders are described, and their applications to college administration are discussed. They include future searches; open space technology; interactive design method; home-grown events such as retreats; great teaching…

This text helps prospective and experienced principals, administrators, and supervisors increase their knowledge and skills through concepts, case-studies, and simulations. This book contains the following two parts and fifteen chapters. Part I presents important theoretical concepts and research findings that can improve educators'…

This book presents a historical review of five private research libraries in the United States and analyzes how these five nonprofit organizations managed the pressures of change that all nonprofits face. Part one contains five case studies: (1) the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens; (2) the Pierpont Morgan Library; (3)…

This guide is intended to help organizational researchers involved in diagnosing organizations and helping them change. Part 1 focuses on defensive routines that limit learning at the organizational, intergroup, group, and individual levels. Part 2 focuses on the case study of a consulting firm at which a climate fostering learning and change was…