This paper defines and discuss a number of basic concepts relevant to educational administration that form the basis for the Educational Management Project, a comprehensive inservice program for educational administrators that was developed by the Tucson Public Schools. Major topics discussed include educational management, the difference between…

The objective of a two-day Symposium on Systems Approach to Environmental Pollution of the Operations Research Society of America at the 137th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, December 27-28, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, was not to raise the litany of a systems approach as the answer to all environmental…

This article presents a systematic eclectic model for organizational change. It is a proactive model in which the change agent defines goals, assesses needs, and reaches out in an active, purposeful way to intervene in the target system. Paper prepared for the Chicago, 1975 Convention of the American Psychological Association. (Author/BP)

Discusses five of the most common approaches to planning adult education programs: pragmatic approach, Tyler approach, social psychology approach, community development approach, and systems approach. In addition to these, other adult educators offer more eclectic approaches to program planning. (CT)

Identifies six needs assessment procedures applied in educational and other organizations, provides examples of how each is used, and discusses the relationship of needs assessment to problem solving. Kaufman's Outcomes Model is described and the Organizational Elements Model is presented as a pragmatic approach to contemporary decision making and…

Proposes preparation of urban engineers through interdisciplinary systems engineering research in order that technology may be applied to urban problems such as transportation, environment, and housing. Summary of report by the Urban Engineering Study Committee. Complete report available at

Examines how school counselors can apply systems theory and social ecology to problem conceptualization and intervention planning. Also explores the implications of this broadened paradigm for the school counselor's role. Asserts that in order to achieve broad-based change, schools, families, and communities must engage in collaborative problem…

The needs assessment process must begin first with the determination of "what should be." The next process in needs assessment is the determination of "what is." The gaps or discrepancies between "what is" and "what should be" are the needs of the school or district. The results of this needs assessment must then be viewed in terms of the resource…

The terminology associated with instructional accountability, instructional relevance, and benefits to society were considered in determining a more efficient and effective instructional program. (Author/RK)

The extension of computer based communication to the more task-focused communication required by groups involved in joint problem solving is discussed in this paper. Specifically, it addresses three areas: (1) the aspects of the joint problem solving that are most suited to computer based communication support, (2) the computer based communication…

This publication provides an organizational scheme for a creative problem solving process. The authors indicate that all problems can benefit from the same logical and orderly process now employed to solve many complex problems. The principles remain constant; only specific methods change. Chapter 1 analyzes the development of creativity and fear…

Most educational management systems currently define organizational roles in terms of the operations to be performed. A more efficient manner of organization might be one that operates in terms of objectives to be reached. One way of implementing such a problem solving structure, would be to assign a particular problem to administrative personnel…

An essay on the changing decision-making and organization skills needed by librarians to cope with the new interdisciplinary knowledge, the great increase in types of media and services available, and uncertainty. (JAB)

Describes a classroom activity to introduce students to pros and cons of recent bottle bill legislation which proposes restrictions on the sale of nonreturnable beverage containers. Flowcharts are used to analyze the problem in a systems format. (Author/AV)

Discusses conceptual models of thought that have recently emerged to confront the conventional approaches to analysis and solution to complex environmental problems. In addition to a critical attack on the tradition of specialization and reductionism, several models are summarized that originated from ecology, cybernetics, and system theory. (BC)