Compares and contrasts the current development of needs analysis and needs assessment through a review of the literature, and offers recommendations designed to restore systems thinking to front-end analysis in organizational and instructional development. The roles of needs assessment and needs analysis in a performance technology model are…

Reviews various models for understanding, treating and preventing child abuse. Describes an ecological model of human behavior that provides a comprehensive perspective for integrating the diverse models. Discusses an ecological model of child abuse. (RJC)

Discusses three major approaches to family therapy for child abuse which emphasize systems theory. These approaches include the psychoanalytic, integrative, and communicative-integrative approach. A case example of family-centered treatment is included. (RJC)

Compares assumptions and practices emerging from family systems and feminist counseling. Examines nature of problem definitions; notions about power and appropriate sex roles in relationships; and characteristics of therapeutic relationship. Concludes that feminist perspective has potential for improving marital and family counseling. Suggests…

Systems concepts are applied to family financial planning using a functional interpretation of systems analyses. The framework can help professionals researching family financial behavior and its outcomes, planning programs, and offering financial services. It can also be used by families in their own financial planning. (Author/JOW)

Examines new types of educational software. Topics addressed include electronic performance support systems (EPSSs); other examples of electronic support; a systems approach and a human approach to identifying a common category for EPSSs; users' activities and needs; feedback; hybrid EPSSs; and design guidelines. (35 references) (LRW)

Examines key "chaos" elements--operation of systems far from equilibrium, nonlinear causation and discontinuous change, patterns in apparent chaos, and self-organization--in relation to family systems theory. Although there are several parallels, chaos theory is better able to address change, inequity, and the occurrence of order and…

Field theory is interactional. It asserts that genetic predispositions, acquired characteristics, uniqueness, and behaviors of individual impact are affected by events and people in environment. This can be seen clearly in development of children who join family rather than being born into it. Resulting complexities can be seen in family therapy…

Family is a major influence on career development. A framework matching developmental stages of children and families is useful in planning and implementing career services for persons with disabilities. (SK)

Discussion of societal and technological changes in the 20th century and the resulting paradigm shift focuses on the need to develop a systems view of education. The genesis of the systems view is explained; an example of a possible systems model is presented; and applications in education are considered. (LRW)

Training is a system of requirements, resources, and results. The requirements tell the system what it needs to do, the system produces results intended to meet the requirements, and the system consumes resources to produce results. Understanding what the customer wants enables trainers to tailor all processes to that goal. (JOW)

A methodology to address "soft system" problems (those that are unstructured or fuzzy) has these steps: (1) mapping the problem; (2) constructing a root definition; (3) applying conceptual models; (4) comparing models to the real world; and (5) finding and implementing feasible solutions. (SK)

Discusses new ideas on the definition of intellectual abilities and how they can be measured. Examines issues of generality of both conventional tests and new tests in the measurement of intelligence. Also addresses the teaching of intelligence and the future prospective of research and development of the technology of testing. (MMU)

Utilizes a family therapy approach to restructure family relationships in order to prevent further runaway behavior of a 15-year-old Mexican-American female. The approach involves a family interview, genogram, and family therapy. The Family Satisfaction Scale was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. (Author/MKA)

Examines three theses: (1) work teams should be analyzed as object-oriented activity systems; (2) the nature of teams depends on the type of production in which they are implemented; and (3) fluid forms of collaborative work organization are displacing stable teams. (SK)