This critical analysis argues against the use of results from a computer model to project the growth and decay of cities as proposed by Forrester in his book "Urban Dynamics." (EB)

Systems concepts are useful in rethinking and reorganizing the structure of education. The author presents a popular interpretation of the systems approach to problem solving. He uses a general systems theory to compare the attributes of a school system and a computer system. He uses the idea of a critical subsystem to prepare a table of…

This study was designed to extend the generality of the Substrata-Factor Theory by two methods of investigation: (1) theoretically, to est"blish the validity of the hypothesis that an isomorphic relationship exists between the Substrata-Factor Theory and the General Open Systems Theory, and (2) experimentally, to disc"ver through a…

This study was designed to extend the generality of the Substrata-Factor Theory by two methods of investigation: (1) theoretically, to establish the validity of the hypothesis that an isomorphic relationship exists between the Substrata-Factor Theory and the General Open Systems Theory, and (2) experimentally, to discover through a series of…

This paper removes one of the major drawbacks to understanding change by offering a definition of organizational change which specifies the system levels that are subject to change and explains the nature of the relationship between these various levels and the overall goals of the organization. Two strategies for studying organizational change…

The nature and extent of systems analysis in education is discussed in terms of the following specific applications: (1) Instructional systems where the concern is with the components of the system (e.g., teachers, students, material to be taught, or audiovisual systems) and their interaction in the learning process, (2) project management systems…

Increased enrollment and student activism has created a situation within student personnel services that almost defies most management systems. A systems approach can enable student personnel services to evaluate what they are doing to determine if counselors are making a difference in the lives of students. The characteristics of this approach…

A new debate strategy which may be used in judging academic debates is the application of policy systems analysis. In the policy systems analysis approach, the negative team must advocate a policy system just as the affirmative team does, providing a comparison for the debate judge. The major difference between systems analysis and traditional…

The educational system is characterized by a vector matrix differential equation, and it is shown that the concepts of modern control theory such as observability, controllability, and optimal control can give deeper insight into the behavior of the educational system. The identification of the system dynamics and the definition of a realistic…

ERIC abstracts on systems approaches in education, announced in RIE through January 1970, are compiled. The key terms used in compiling this collection are "systems approach,""systems analysis,""critical path method," and "systems concepts." The following information is presented for each document: author, title, place of publication, publisher,…

The Second Law of Thermodynamics demonstrates the idea of entropy, the tendency of ordered energy to free itself and thus break apart the system that contains it and dissipate that system into chaos. When applied to communications theory, entropy increases not only with noise but with the density of information--particles of possible meaning…