This article presents an example of the ways in which many large districts are working to dispel long-held myths about inefficient and unresponsive operations, particularly in operational areas, such as transportation, purchasing, food services, and information technology (IT). Determined to improve both academically and operationally, leaders in…

Describes Fault Tree Analysis, a tool for systems analysis which attempts to identify possible modes of failure in systems to increase the probability of success. The article defines the technique and presents the steps of FTA construction, focusing on its application to education. (RAO)

A linear programing approach to the school busing problem is analyzed in some detail. Six different linear programing models allow examination of the effects of changes in the parameters of the models on assignment of students. Various ways in which school officials may use the solutions to the models and the postoptimality analysis of the models…

Develops models to systematically forecast the tendency of an educational administrator in charge of personnel selection processes to shift from one decision strategy to another under generally stable environmental conditions. Urges further research on these processes by educational planners. (JF)

Major literature is reviewed in the course of describing and assessing the role of operations research (OR) in educational administration. Increased use of OR approaches in education and a compounding of the present disagreement about the application and potential of OR are forecast. (MJL)

An account of planning's evolution at American University emphasizes the importance of building flexible working relationships among the various representatives of the university community and the planning staff, in support of the faculty-student relationship at the core of the learning process. (Editor/LBH)

This study, based primarily on the experience of Seattle, Washington, deals with the application of the systems approach to educational planning. Section 1 defines and describes the concept of a system and the systems approach, and gives a general introduction to the use of systems analysis. Section 2 describes the development and use of the…

A visual, as well as verbal, description is presented of the process by which an educational facility was planned and built in Boston. The graphic display of the generic process represents specific considerations regarding--(1) the development of a capital improvement program, (2) site selection, acquisition and preparation, (3) educational…

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)

This ESEA Title III report describes fault tree analysis and assesses its applicability to education. Fault tree analysis is an operations research tool which is designed to increase the probability of success in any system by analyzing the most likely modes of failure that could occur. A graphic portrayal, which has the form of a tree, is…

Any general systems approach has five basic elements, which serve as the tasks for the researcher using systems analysis. The five are (1) the objectives, (2) the alternatives, (3) the costs, (4) the model (or models), and (5) the decision rule. With these five steps, the researcher should be able to specify the objectives, select alternatives,…

The critical importance of planning in higher education is addressed. The challenge to planning is seen not just as alleviating the current pressures, but in assuring that the traditions of independence, creativity, and intellectual excellence survive. The planning process at Stanford University is described. For the university, the process of…