Argues that incrementalism's weakness is that it is another rational approach to problem solving when what is needed is a nonrational approach--creativity. Offers guidelines for improving creativity in oneself and in the work environment. (IRT)

In education, evaluative data concerning the merit of materials, methods, and programs, are used by the decision maker to project the probable value of consequences of alternative actions from several points of view and then place all of these evaluative data in the context of the normative requirements and constraints of the situation. (JMF)

Provides an example of how HPT (human performance Technology) helped provide value in a community situation in Montreal. Describes a problem with graffiti that a neighborhood merchants association was having and explains how an HPT (human performance technology) professional suggested defining the reasons for the problem before solutions were…

Because workers need more than job-specific skills, vocational education should emphasize self-management skills (setting goals, planning, adjusting, and evaluating); knowledge extension skills (composing, problem solving, decision making, and inquiry); and enabling skills (comparing, classifying, deducing, analyzing, supporting, and abstracting).…

A new theory of subjective probability is presented. According to this theory, different descriptions of the same event can give rise to different judgments. Experimental evidence supporting this theory is summarized, demonstrating that the theory provides a unified treatment of a wide range of empirical findings. (SLD)

Policy analysis is a two-stage process of (1) diagnosing the problem and (2) unraveling the parts in it played by the policy issue, environment, factors affecting implementation, and proposed alternatives. In higher education, this requires a thorough understanding of the unique higher education environment. (MSE)

Cognitive perspectives offer important, unique insights about the nature of expert administrative practice, how it develops, and what can be done to assist that development. The five articles making up this issue address cognitive perspectives on educational administration based on three areas of inquiry: human thought and problem-solving…

The need for creative thinking in 21st-century nursing is addressed by Gwynedd-Mercy College's program, which teaches the creative process, problem solving, and critical decision making. Students are challenged to develop innovative health care solutions in individual projects. (SK)

Presents a 10-step process that allows swimming-pool owners to objectively scrutinize their existing facility's needs, construction, and operation and maintenance budgets before renovating a structurally deficient or costly pool. Four examples of problems involving pool-renovation decision making are highlighted. (GR)

An integrative approach to learning outcome assessment in business education uses business input. This capstone problem-solving course is an enriched experience that enables evaluation of skills and abilities in a realistic workplace environment. (SK)

Discusses how to use general semantics formulations to improve problem solving at home or at work--methods come from the areas of artificial intelligence/computer science, engineering, operations research, and psychology. (PA)

Discusses the value for administrators of guidance offered by (1) the tenets of poststructuralism; (2) the book "An Uncertain Glory: Letters of Cautious but Sound Advice to Stanley, a Dean-in-Waiting"; and (3) Machiavelli's "Il Principe." (NH)

Discusses evidence-based decision making; describes techniques to support evidence-based retrieval in the field of medicine which emphasize the retrieval and application of high quality knowledge to solve real-world problems; and considers the transferability of evidence-based information seeking to other fields. (Contains 69 references.) (LRW)

This study investigated the effects of cognitive readiness in a Navy simulated environment, the simulation being the Multi-Mission Team Trainer. The research question that drove this study was: will simulations increase cognitive readiness? One of the tasks of Navy sailors is to deal with unpredictable events. Unpredictability in the military is…

Past research has suggested that students need to be motivated by themselves (intrinsic learning motivation) and use higher-order cognitive skills so as to excel in problem solving, decision-making, and analytical reasoning in real-life situations. In this study, we examined the role of intrinsic learning motivation (ILM) and cumulative GPA in…