This article is an analysis of "Performance Improvement Quarterly" (PIQ) for the years 2001-2010. The intent was to examine the article types used, the authors who contributed the most to the journal, the topics the journal most commonly focused on, and the citation frequency of the journal's articles. The analysis revealed that…

The performance of 43 library work groups was assessed by means of supervisor's ratings. Characteristics of the groups' tasks, membership, leadership, structure, and process were measured by averaging their members' responses to factor of the Work Group Survey. The implications for both organization theorists and change agents are discussed.…

Leveraging Internet technologies, distance education is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. With its newfound popularity comes greater resource as well as higher expectations and great scrutiny. If distance education programs are to support their dramatic growth and outlive the hype, they must demonstrate performance results. Performance, however,…

This paper considers the total-quality-management teachings of W. E. Deming as a basis for the redesign of educational-administration preparation programs. The performance domains developed by the National Commission for the Principalship (jointly sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Association of…

Develops the concept of aspirational management and explains its importance in assembling effective, adaptive, high-performing organizations. Describes how aspirational management can be implemented in higher education using four interacting processes: (1) an aspirations statement; (2) commitment to living the values; (3) commitment to learning…

A top aide to Vice President Gore has been chosen to lead the U.S. Department of Education's effort to modernize delivery of financial aid to students and colleges. His office is the first federal government entity to be run as a "performance-based organization." Some fear he may politicize the office that lawmakers specified be led by a…

Managerialism is an ideology with two distinct claims: (1) efficient management can solve almost any problem; and (2) practices that are appropriate for the conduct of private-sector enterprises can also be applied to the public sector (Rees, 1995). This paper examines these claims in relation to education as a public service. Specifically, the…

This document describes six different approaches to outcomes assessments, approaches that are named in the titles of chapters 2 through 7. The chapters and authors are as follows: "Perspectives on Assessment Policy and Practice" (Bragg, Harmon); "Total Quality Management" (Bragg); "Assessing Student Success" (Harmon);…

These four papers are from a symposium on evaluation in human resource development (HRD). "Assessing Organizational Readiness for Learning through Evaluative Inquiry" (Hallie Preskill, Rosalie T. Torres) reviews how evaluative inquiry can facilitate organizational learning; argues HRD evaluation should be reconceptualized as a process…