The complex system dynamics of organizations and the influence of information technology requires workers to have boundary-spanning skills and the ability to work in virtual teams. The integrated business core is an experiential graduate-level course designed to develop these skills; it is also adaptable for inservice training. (Contains 69…

Continual additions of discrete educational programs are ineffective and deleterious to the educational system. The New American Schools Development Corporation and Goals 2000 are examples of systemic school-improvement initiatives. A new paradigm based on lifelong learning and individual and team growth is essential. A learning organization must…

Discusses collaboration as a recent trend in supply chain management (SCM) that focuses on joint planning, coordination, and process integration between suppliers, customers, and other partners in a supply chain. Analyzes alternative information systems approaches for supporting collaborative SCM, including phone, fax, or email systems; Web-based…

The purpose of this article is to provide school counselors with a systems perspective of substance abuse. The following topics are addressed: the symptomatology of adolescent substance abuse; a systemic perspective on such abuse; the role of the family in the perpetuation and healing if this dysfunction; and the role of the school counselor in…

Results are reported from an analysis of the research literature including children with disabilities (birth through age 5), their families, personnel who serve them, and policies and systems change strategies related to the provision of services. Analysis reveals trends in research methods and for studying particular topics and information about…

The Developmental Structure/Process Tool was used to explore differences between theories in use and espoused theories of two executives and a six-member work team. Theories of action were shown to be developmentally based and thus open to maturation and developmental coaching. (Contains 39 references.) (SK)

Provides a rationale for applying holistic systems thinking to sustainable development Suggests student activities for four topics: (1) exploration of external organizational environment; (2) inner-directed exploration of the natural world; (3) exploration of the individual's world; and (4) personal impact on the larger system. (Contains 29…

Introduces the new science of chaos, an emerging synthesis of the natural and the social sciences. The concept's touchstone is the discovery of dissipative structures that are open systems capable of self-organization and self-renewal. Here chaos is loosely formulated in a science of school leadership. Includes 57 references. (MLH)

A guide to environmental scanning looks at its rationale and relationship to strategic planning, and outlines three administrative approaches: establishment of a committee, sponsoring a scanning conference or event, and assigning the task to the institutional research or planning office. (MSE)

Describes the development, current status, and possible future of NSFNET, which is a backbone network designed to connect five national supercomputer centers established by the National Science Foundation. The discussion covers the implications of this network for research and national networking needs. (CLB)

Two approaches to conflict resolution in the workplace are described. A systems approach questions the organization's systems rather than the behavior or motives of co-workers. Problem-solving retreats encourage team building and group cohesion and focus on long-term issues. (SK)

Addresses fundamental issues central to the systematic design of schooling that incorporate changing technology. Schooling models of the past and present are discussed, a technology-based paradigm for the future is described, and it is suggested that empirical research be used as the basis for developing a new model. (six references) (LRW)

As the world is changing, higher education program administrators must give up a linear way of thinking and search for another that fits a nonlinear, dynamic system. Leaders can learn much from the science of chaos studies about how dynamic human organizations function and the underlying principles of complex dynamic systems. (MSE)

Education is the only "business" in which the consumers (students) rather than the workers (teachers and administrators) do most of the work. For educational technology to fulfill its potential, we must change our views about work in schools. Technology must be used for the workers to improve connections and by the workers to enhance and extend…

The forms and strategies of institutional self-regulation used in Europe for program assessment and improvement are viewed as partial structures, not integrated systems designed to fully realize the potential of the self-regulatory system. A self-regulation program review model for use in ministerial or other centrally administered systems is…