Making evidence-based decisions in schools seems like an impossible task when hundreds of activities are available, the evidence base fails to address most of them, and budget deadlines are immovable. In addition, different stakeholders hold different views on what it means for a program, strategy, or intervention to "work." Fiona…

This paper examines some of the theoretical and practical issues confronting educational administrators who must make decisions regarding the implementation of microcomputers in their schools. A conceptual framework is offered for understanding the stages involved in the innovation decision process. Several attributes of innovations are discussed…

The results of the Rand study of pilot flows and the computer-operated decision model, called the PILOT model, are described. The flows of pilots within the Air Force are caused by policies that require the career-development rotation of pilots from cockpit jobs to desk jobs, the maintenance of a supplement of pilots in excess of cockpit-related…

Choosing a consultant to help with a computer system will have more impact on an office than any other decision made during the year. The major advantage of hiring computer consultants is that they bring in-depth expertise to the organization. Some basic rules for choosing a computer consultant are provided. (MLW)

THREE METHODS OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS ARE DISCUSSED--USE OF COMPUTERS, MATHEMATICS, AND EXPERTISE. THE USE OF EXPERTISE IS EMPHASIZED. THE DISCUSSION ON EXPERTISE JUDGMENT IS BASED ON PAPERS BY O. HELMER, WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE DELPHI METHOD OR CYBERNETIC ARBITRATION. ALTHOUGH COMPUTER AND MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS (PARTICULARLY GAME THEORY) ARE BECOMING…

A NUMBER OF PILOT STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED IN AN EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS SEMINAR HELD IN 1965 AT THE INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UCLA, TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIALITIES OF APPLYING DELPHI TECHNIQUES TO PROBLEMS OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING. THE RESPONDENTS FOR THESE EXPERIMENTS SUGGESTED SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL INNOVATIONS AND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS…

This paper examines the proposition that management information systems (MIS) for colleges and universities are not achieving their original objectives of supporting better management decisions by providing more and better information in a more timely manner. As a consequence, the MIS activity should be reduced in scope, and standardized to…

The Cornell University Office of Publications' experiences in the process of computerization are discussed, including rationale, choice of equipment, and decisions concerning the services to be offered, and the lessons learned are offered to others. (MSE)

This model is a computerized mathematical simulation of the manner in which educational decisions and patterns of school operation affect costs. The design shows how teacher salaries, school building design parameters, and decisions regarding class size and instructional materials expenditures contribute to total school costs. The sophisticated…

MODIA (Method of Designing Instructional Alternatives) was developed to help the Air Force manage resources for formal training by systematically and explicitly relating quantitative requirements for training resources to the details of course design and course operation during the planning stage. This report explains how to operate the User…

Identifies the lack of an effective comprehensive management information system (MIS) as one major impediment to effective library administration and outlines a proposal for the development of a system based on a total systems approach, which would be made available to subscriber libraries through a network system. Twenty-three references are…

The cost-benefit of administrative data at a state college is placed in perspective relative to the institutional involvement in computer use. The costs of computer operations, personnel, and peripheral equipment expenses related to instruction are analyzed. Data bases and systems support institutional activities, such as registration, and aid…

Describes how school districts can use microcomputers for financial modeling in order to conduct a logical and rational school closure analysis. (MLF)

The four papers presented in this book are intended to promote awareness of educational applications of microcomputer systems, educational software, telecommunications networks, and cable television. An introduction and a list of contributors precede the papers, which discuss specific topics related to computers and new technologies in education:…

This report provides a complete guide to the stand alone mode operation of the reliability and maintenance (R&M) model, which was developed to facilitate the performance of design versus cost trade-offs within the digital avionics information system (DAIS) acquisition process. The features and structure of the model, its input data…