The Calgary Board of Education has successfully operated a self-pay purchase order system to reduce the handling costs for small dollar purchases. A self-pay purchase order is basically a purchase order with a limited-amount check attached. Four exhibits illustrate the system and summarize the procedures. (MLF)

As public officials become increasingly pressured to do more with less, the search for efficiency will expand. Efficiency studies are being undertaken to gauge organizational effectiveness in administration; personnel productivity; privatization options; materials management; mangagement information and control; and vehicle, equipment, and…

A volunteer program's worth affects volunteers themselves, the leisure service agency, and the community. Four major activities which recognize volunteer worth are discussed--keeping good records, thanking volunteers and recognizing them formally, providing feedback to volunteers, and developing cost-effectiveness analysis. A cost-effectiveness…

Explains how cost-utility analysis can be applied to the selection of curriculum and instructional methods. Describes the use of multiattribute utility models of decision making as a tool for more informed judgment in educational administration. (SK)

Explores the meanings that have been attached to the term "archival" and concludes that librarians participating in the national preservation effort use this term to mean permanent. Permanence is practically defined as storage for upwards of 100 years. Given this definition, the merits of microforms and optical disks as archival storage materials…

School choice should be promoted only under conditions guaranteeing that costs will be outweighed by benefits. Implementing choice means developing an effective assignment policy, conducting parent surveys, providing for adequate staff involvement, committing to parent outreach, managing effects on individual schools, and setting up a…

Identifies four categories of end users, based on their searching ability and knowledge of their subject area. The role of the librarian or information specialist in assisting each category of users to fully benefit from online full text databases (FTDs) discussed. (30 references. (CLB)

Describes traditional forms of apprenticeship in Africa and examines legislative and institutional attempts to improve the system. Makes recommendations for obtaining greater cost effectiveness by combining on-the-job training with theoretical instruction, upgrading trainers, and giving them fair remuneration. (SK)

In transition, articulation refers to appropriate coordination of services required for a successful move or transfer by special needs students. Four types of articulation are examined that improve service delivery for students with special training needs. (JOW)

An approach toward integrating evaluation into a program at its inception is presented as a way to increase utility and cost-effectiveness. Examples illustrate that such integration, combining internal and external evaluation, is preferable to independent and separate evaluation in terms of the cost to stakeholders. (SLD)

Describes a training program developed by AT&T that videotaped a training program originally delivered by satellite broadcast and then synchronized the video course delivery at various locations. Interaction with the instructor via a conference call, including explaining the use of the accompanying printed materials, is discussed. (LRW)

Presents results of a detailed study of potential cost savings from consolidation of New York school districts. Develops a theoretical framework that distinguishes several economy-of-scale dimensions and defines an empirical cost function for schooling. Results indicate substantial cost savings from consolidating districts with fewer than 500…

Describes a study that compared the cost-effectiveness of consolidated county libraries in large metropolitan areas of the Midwest with the cost-effectiveness of large city libraries which share service to the county with other large public library systems. The questionnaire used in the survey is appended. (Author/LRW)

In many evaluations, presenting probability distributions of cost-effectiveness results offers a convenient way to show the likelihood of various conclusions given the uncertainties in the inputs. The techniques presented in this paper should be useful for many programs characterized by controversy over perspectives, assumptions, and dollar…

A five-step plan to develop a school insurance request for proposal to negotiate the best deal available for a school district. (MLF)