This brief guide is intended for managers who are responsible for computer projects, to explain the use of quality controls and software management methods. The typical problems of software development are explained. Over twenty distinct quality controls are defined, and recommendations are given for software management actions. Empirical…

Virginia Commonwealth University has implemented some pilot improvement programs using the Total Quality Management approach. These have included improvement of a personnel action processing form, creation of a campus computing service request tracking system, and development of an alumni program database. The pilot programs have taught lessons…

The philosophy, structure, and operation of a Dutch system for institutional self-evaluation in higher education (AMOS) are described. The system is centrally designed to assist in national resource allocation for higher education, but the feedback is intended primarily for institutions and faculties to use in increasing efficiency and…

This paper discusses the procedures best suited for storing, organizing, and using past and present National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, as well as procedures and systems used for archiving past and future data, and the quality-control procedures employed to ensure the integrity and responsiveness of the data management system.…

The New York City Public School System has mandated an Integrated Student Data System (ISDS). This integrated system will include data already maintained in independent computerized files, as well as data that have not been computerized in any systematic way. This paper explores general issues about data accuracy for a system that covers all the…

New roles for college institutional researchers in the area of data administration and management that have resulted from developments in computer technology are reviewed. These developments include easily accessed databases, user-friendly software, and powerful and inexpensive hardware. The growing demand for data, combined with a general lack of…

In college administration, a climate for adaptive change should be created using the philosophy, processes, and tools of Total Quality Management in combination with other management innovations. An enterprise-wide infrastructure for distributing information on demand for decision makers to monitor institutional performance should be built.…

Colleges and universities have begun to benefit from advancing technology. Considering the problems higher education faces and the potential that enterprise-wide information access offers, institutional leaders must look ahead and decide where to invest in information technology support to achieve maximum benefits in quality improvement and cost…

Proceeding from the premise that effective educational management requires effective information management, this paper identifies requirements to consider in designing student information systems, and describes how the Toronto Public Schools' system meets these requirements. In addition to examining the common characteristics of information…

The computerized financial aid application editing system used at the University of South Carolina to ensure efficient processing and maintain quality control is described. The monitoring system is based on standardized codes derived from national need assessment services and consists of 18 edit checks and an interface between the admissions and…