More employers are offering opportunity for career development and continuous learning in return for high performance and productivity during an employee's tenure. (Author)

The systems approach assembles in a single assessment setting four basic instruments to determine the current functioning status of the individual for the purpose of better understanding the dynamics involved in severe behavior problems: (1) the Democratic Maturity Test ; (2) the Life Fulfillment Inventory; (3) the Voluntary Control Test; and (4)…

Claims that curriculum planning and effective advising will help students develop intellectual connections across their individual courses and thus enhance their college experience. Explains how nine colleges now use interdisciplinary teaching to improve their engineering programs by making connections across department boundaries, college…

Samples college students (N=440) to assess the impact of parental divorce and family functioning on their development. Results indicate that parental divorce and family functioning have unique effects on key developmental tasks associated with a college-age population. Discusses an intergenerational family-systems approach. (Author/MKA)

Uses a systems approach to reframe welfare assistance as well-being for the many, not welfare for the few. The framework outlines the state of family economic functioning (crisis, at risk, safe, thriving), type of welfare assistance (entitlement, subsidy, self-sufficiency, sustainability), poverty levels (below, at, 150%, 200%), and supports…

Discusses open systems thinking as a new lens to use when exploring written business communication--a lens that integrates task, organizational structure, control, and technology into the analysis of written business messages. Explores the influences these subsystems have on written communication and then develops these systems and subsystems into…

In 2 studies, accounting students (n=14, 25) used a systems approach to complete practice problems; controls (n=20, 15) used textbook cases. In both studies, experimental groups developed higher-level thinking skills and retained what they learned. The systems approach appeared to help marginal achievers. (SK)

The Learning Transfer Systems Inventory provides a systematic approach for predicting training effectiveness through needs assessment, organizational analysis to determine issues affecting training outcomes, and assessment of needed resources. Data from 158 management trainers demonstrated its effectiveness in assessing how well an organization…

Discusses ParentLink, a collective of Missouri organizations and agencies striving to simplify parents' access to research-based information, services, and problem-solving support pertaining to parenting. It is based on systems theory, specifically the ecology of human development. A comprehensive array of technologies augments ParentLink…

The social-systems perspective in organizational theory faded because the increasing complexity of social relations hindered determination of an appropriate unit of analysis. Also, the business-school environment in which organizational research occurred discouraged examination of broad social questions, promoted a particular approach to science,…

Explores the applicability of a feminist model for clinical social work with couples and families. Summarizes the feminist critique of traditional family systems theory and explores other areas of concern including family theory and healthy family functioning. (JPS)

Offers guidelines to help colleges and universities ensure a course of telecommunications network growth and renewal, provide continuous network upgrades, and maintain a position of flexibility. Discusses focuses on principles that guide network planning and design; how to apply principles to standard building blocks and network design; voice,…

Proposes a plan to determine if a cyclical, systems-based analysis can replace detailed activity reporting for voluntary faculty effort in government-supported university research. This analysis could then provide the basis for adjusting entries on billed contract costs. The method would provide quantitative support for analyzing voluntary cost…

Examines the growth of automation at two university libraries, with particular attention to the stages in the evolution of the academic systems librarian. Discusses a growth in digitized resources; integration of systems; developments in client/server technology, especially as they relate to the World Wide Web; and changes I organizational…

Increased attention to medical errors and patient safety highlights the importance of quality improvement in continuing medical education. Ways to enhance quality include informatics, clinical practice guidelines, learning from opinion leaders and patients, learning organizations, and just-in-time and point-of-care delivery of continuing…