A training and development curriculum for scientific research managers is discussed. Four management modules linked to a typical career profile are described: research management, subject matter management, functional program management, and policy and program management. (MSE)

Priority setting is examined from the perspective of planning practitioners operating in a major federal regulatory agency. Causes of ambivalence in setting priorities are considered, and ways to reduce ambivalence are suggested. Three models are proposed for setting priorities in the public sector. (SLD)

A group of 12 federally funded community mental health centers which make effective use of paraprofessionals is described. The purpose is to make mental health policy makers and service agency staff members aware of the wide range of innovative service models in existence in which paraprofessionals play diverse and crucial roles. A case study for…

This workbook addresses key issues in the design of an overall strategic planning process and the subsequent implementation process for public and nonprofit organizations. The workbook is divided into two sections. Part 1 presents an overview of the strategic planning and implementation process and the benefits to be gained by using it. The…

This book shows how leaders and managers of public and nonprofit organizations can use strategic planning to strengthen their organizations. This expanded edition includes many new examples of successful and unsuccessful strategic planning practices, along with new chapters that address how to implement strategies, how to reassess strategies and…

Coordination of early intervention for children with disabilities is discussed, including barriers to interagency coordination. A 2-year study of 6 diverse states identified 13 ways in which public agencies are different from one another. Recommendations are offered to assist agencies to develop a coordinated service system. (Author/SW)

A legislative proposal by the Association of American Universities calls for creation of a federal agency similar to the National Science Foundation to develop and promote a national policy of support for foreign language, area, and international studies research and instruction at colleges, universities, and other institutions. (MSE)

The administrative problems of public sector research programs in developing nations include lack of major public policies and too many minor ones, inadequate or haphazard planning, budgetary constraints, inadequate evaluation and monitoring, inadequate or obsolete equipment and facilities, trained manpower shortages, and limited motivation. (MSE)

Department of Education regulations and initiatives designed to address problems of fraud, abuse, and loan default in federal student aid programs are examined. The scope and intrusiveness of some recent regulations are criticized, and unintended effects are noted, including increased administrative burdens on all institutions. (Author/MSE)

Research conducted by the General Accounting Office (GAO) indicates that the current system of multiple employment training programs requires major overhaul to reduce costs, streamline the bureaucracy, and improve results. The current system of 163 different federal employment training programs wastes resources and confuses and frustrates clients,…

Early state and local progress toward implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) was reviewed. Data were collected through visits to selected sites in Florida, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Vermont and a 90-item Workforce System Information and Evaluation (WSIE) data collection form. The following aspects of WIA…