Contingency fee-based services can help educational institutions improve the quality of service. If, after a review, a savings is implemented, the consultant receives a fee, which is usually a percentage of the money saved. Areas of cost reviews include telephone, copiers, insurance, and utilities. (MLF)

Micro-computers and local area networks are opening up new possibilities for streamlining the administrative support system of universities and decentralizing decision making. Such decentralization needs to be complemented by improved coordination between units responsible for different application systems. (Author/MLW)

The area of finance should be the first one to be automated or upgraded with computers. After a needs analysis, a computer consultant will work with management to determine a realistic budget that will get the most computing power for the dollars available. Offers 10 tips for working with consultants. (MLF)

Examines economic issues of electronic scholarly journal publishing. Highlights include costs, supply and demand, library article-borrowing versus journal-purchasing, and future perspectives. Publication and distribution information is provided in eight tables and three figures. (AEF)

Carleton and Saint Olaf Colleges (Minnesota) combined their food purchasing power to support area farmers and bring about the use of less chemical- and energy-intensive agriculture. The initiative was designed by students to encourage a sustainable agricultural economy. It has involved other colleges through a regional conference. (Author/MSE)

Five major considerations to be addressed by college development programs before upgrading a computer system include: (1) evaluating functions of the current system; (2) assessing system capabilities needed; (3) discovering what users need; (4) deciding whether to patch an older system, build a new one in house, or buy it complete; and (5)…

Over 200 California school districts are combined in 6 different cooperatives utilizing 3 different organizational structures to improve food services. Provides proof of cost savings and purchasing efficiency. (MLF)

When a college contracts for a product or service, the request for proposal (RFP) may be an appropriate tool. It must clearly define what is needed for fair evaluation. A rating or weighting system for costs and benefits is useful for isolating and quantifying important elements of the decision-making process. (MSE)

Campus activities programmers are offered advice on making the most of what they learn at a convention, including some hints for organization before the convention, suggestions for dealing with agents and other schools and for taking notes, and ideas for follow-up. Special attention is given to cooperative buying agreements schools may make with…

Lists 16 questions to address when pondering the purchase of educational materials. Addressed are issues of educational potential, health and safety to children, age flexibility, potential for skill development, structural integrity, and adequate customer service. (SD)

Generation Y wants to know why! Today's youth are curious, they want the facts, they want the hard data, and most of all they want the truth. Advertisements and creative marketing tactics do not easily sway this group. They do their research before they believe most things they hear and see. Purchasing behaviors of Generation Y show that the group…

Computer-based video instruction (CBVI) was used to teach verbal responses to questions presented by cashiers and purchasing skills in fast food restaurants. A multiple probe design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of CBVI. Instruction occurred through simulations of three fast food restaurants on the computer using video…

Following the behavior-analytic tradition of analyzing individual behavior, the present research investigated demand elasticity of individual consumers purchasing supermarket products, and compared individual and group analyses of elasticity. Panel data from 80 UK consumers purchasing 9 product categories (i.e., baked beans, biscuits, breakfast…

The purpose of this study was to investigate use of computers and video technologies to teach students to correctly make purchases in a community grocery store using the dollar plus purchasing strategy. Four middle school students diagnosed with intellectual disabilities participated in this study. A multiple probe across participants research…

This handbook is designed to provide guidance for someone who wants to create portable multimedia presentations with notebook computers and related technologies. The first section offers technological overviews to help assess needs for: (1) portable computers; (2) software; (3) projection equipment; (4) peripherals; (5) portable storage; (6)…