This article, the third in a series, provides a list of criteria to be used in evaluating administrative software. Some general guidelines are provided, followed by 30 questions that should be asked concerning documentation, input, processing, output, and other areas. (DCS)

Sophisticated managers know that reams of data cannot take the place of important information. Planning is necessary to ensure that what is being reported in an organization is necessary and useful and that data are not assembled just because the computer makes it possible. (MLF)

Discusses the management applications of three categories of software: word processing, electronic spreadsheets, and database management systems. Maintains that most administrative tasks can be facilitated with one or more of these systems. Describes the impact of microcomputers on administration at Chipola Junior College. (DMM)

An award-winning administrator of a college computer system discusses the role of networking and teamwork in successful information management, drawing on experiences during recent political upheavals in eastern Europe for illustration. Other success factors stressed include having and sharing a dream and developing future leaders. (MSE)

Information is provided on the data sources and tools used in-house at the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). The objective of the guide is to serve as a central resource for the various data management and analysis activities of NCHEMS. Summaries are provided of NCHEMS information and analytic resources including…

A public utility company uses laser wands to read bar-coded labels on furniture and equipment. The system allows an 80 percent savings of the time required to create reports for inventory control. (MLF)

A computer program utilized to generate detailed reports of labor requirements saved almost $700,000 in custodial labor costs for the Facilities Maintenance and Operations Division of Oakland County, Michigan. The program also is used for a quality-control audit system during inspections to evaluate cleaned rooms. (MLF)

An overview of the uses of microcomputers in special education management is provided. Following a list of nine applications of microcomputers to educational management is a brief description of microcomputers currently used in education. A listing of five firms currently marketing special education management software includes information of…

By applying a computer-aided drafting system to a range of facilities layouts and plans, a division of Tektronix, Inc., Oregon, is maintaining staffing levels with an added workload. The tool is also being used in other areas of the company for illustration, design, and administration. (MLF)

Describes how Milton Academy (Massachusetts) purchased its PDP 11/40 minicomputer and used it for all facets of the school's operations, including classwork, administration, and extracurricular activities. (Author/RW)

This survey of the administrative applications of microcomputers identifies word processing, database management, spreadsheet functions, and graphics as four areas in which microcomputer use will reduce repetition, improve cost efficiency, minimize paperwork, enhance filing and retrieval systems, and save time. This will allow administrators and…

An office automation audit is a comprehensive review of the existing and planned office hardware, software, staffing, and management. Factors reviewed include: standards, physical setup, storage facilities, disaster recovery, equipment protection and utilization, software adequacy, and staff training and adequacy. (MLF)

Systems dynamics, a computer-based tool for visualizing how parts of an organization work together over time, is a valuable tool in administrative decision making. Feedback loops among elements mimic complicated behavior in real or imagined situations. An experiment using the technique with a simple research funding model validated its utility.…

A management information system that monitors course enrollments during an institution's registration cycle is described. The registration cycle includes pre-registration demand, pre-registration scheduling, cancellation for nonpayment of bill, in-person registration, and add/drop. The information system utilizes the course registration process as…

There are two basic approaches offered in current computerized transportation routing and scheduling programs: the mathematical programming approach and the intuitive optimization approach. Lists questions that an informed buyer should ask of the routing and scheduling company. (MLF)