Transporting students with special needs can be a costly proposition. However, school business officials can help mitigate those costs by focusing on four specific areas: relationships, information sharing, safety, and time lines. Although these areas may seem a bit far removed from the numbers we love to crunch, they do affect your…

During these hard economic times, Heads of Department (HoDs) need to find cost effective ways of providing CPD for their staff. An astute department or subject leader will want to be adept at creating the right opportunities for professional learning for their staff with a minimum of expenditure. This article provides ideas on how to find cost…

Both publicly and privately funded research projects managed by universities are growing in size and scope. Complex, large-scale projects (over $50 million) pose new management challenges and risks for universities. This paper explores the relationship between project success and a variety of factors in large-scale university projects. First, we…

The rate of failed and challenged Information Technology (IT) projects is too high according to the CHAOS Studies by the Standish Group and the literature on project management (Standish Group, 2008). The CHAOS Studies define project success as meeting the triple constraints of scope, time, and cost. Assessing critical success factors is another…

In January 2008, Ed Ayers, president of the University of Richmond, signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment. This commits the university to creating a comprehensive action plan to move toward climate neutrality. Even before "sustainability" became one of the university's overall goals, Information Services (IS)…

Unexpected interruptions introduced during the execution phase of simple Tower of London problems incurred a time cost when the interrupted goal was retrieved, and this cost was exacerbated the longer the goal was suspended. Furthermore, time taken to retrieve goals was greater following a more complex interruption, indicating the processing…

Construction management involves (1) identifying the problems and the problem areas, (2) reviewing the various options to which these problems might respond, (3) making decisions based on this evidence, and (4) implementing those decisions as quickly as possible after they are made. (Author)

Describes five principles for cost-effective clinical practice: efficient use of self, efficient use of equipment and supplies, delegation of work, critical path method, and organization of the environment. (SK)

Francis J. Bellamy Elementary School was a fast-tracked project, and as such is a showcase for materials and construction techniques evaluated for both performance and critical path scheduling. (Author)

Discusses eight computer assisted planning models that are amenable to the improvement of decisionmaking; explains the feasibility of involving systems analysis and operations research in educational decisions; and suggests a minimal program designed to prepare educational planners with knowledge of computer assisted planning models. (Author/JF)

A systems approach to college administration and planning is probably the most valuable tool available for coping with the complex problems facing institutions of higher education today. A system is defined as a set of interrelated elements, units, or subsystems that work together toward a common goal. If a college functions as a system, the…

A survey of the use of eight decision-science techniques was conducted in a stratified random cample of school districts in the United States. The purpose of the study was to determine the relative use frequency of these techniques in 14 application areas and the potential uses of the techniques in the school districts. The amount of formal…

A survey investigated the use of seven computerized decision-science techniques in public school systems. A stratified random sample of 128 12-grade school districts of varying sizes was drawn; a questionnaire was sent to the respective superintendents asking them to report the current and potential applications of the following techniques in…

This book focuses on and utilizes the methodology and tools of systems analysis and operations research to demonstrate their use in planning for the future and meeting public demands for information on how tax money is being spent by educational administrators. The range of possible and relevant applications is demonstrated by a step-by-step…

The application of the Performance Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) to the multimedia leadership course development project (see EM 010 418, EM 010 419, and EM 010 484 for the final report) is summarized in this report. The development of the system and the problems encountered in its operation are discussed. Charts showing the critical path…