Compares two natural language processing search engines, WIN (WESTLAW Is Natural) and FREESTYLE, developed by LEXIS. Legal issues in natural language queries were presented to identical libraries in both systems. Results showed that the editorials enhanced relevance; a search would be more thorough using both databases; and if only one system were…

Summarizes a survey and two experiments designed to compare teachers' and department heads' use of, and attitudes toward, England's A Level Information System (ALIS). Conclusions are linked to theories of change, cybernetics, and a view of education regarding researchers and teachers as coinvestigators. Experimentation within school-effectiveness…

Discusses the creation of library computer information systems and shows the four phases incorporated by successful projects. Highlights include phase I: demonstrating a need for a new system; phase II: the development environment; phase III: guidelines to ensure the system will be useful; and phase IV: implementation and acceptance of the new…

Today's information systems (IS) managers have a far more complex job than ever before. They must both know the technology and have the considerable political, organizational, and communication skills needed to manage change and translate complex technical information into concepts everyone in the organization can understand. (MSE)

The Research Libraries Group is expanding its mission to include alliances with the archival community, the museum community, independent research libraries, and learned societies. Areas of emphasis include collections and information delivery, protecting materials, and assisting in development of computer systems. (DB)

The model of performance indicators for educational assessment in Portugal includes context; physical, human, technological, and financial resources; functions; and results. Indicators need to partake of the information systems in schools whereby teachers and administrators gain a better understanding of their own processes and planning…

Describes oral presentations and writing assignments for an upper-division course in management information systems. Presents students' reaction to these activities. (MM)

Provides a background for discussion of the lack of information policies in underdeveloped nations. The paper primarily refers to the conditions and problems of less developed countries, although it is observed that all countries are to a large extent underdeveloped in their information policies. (25 references) (MAB)

Introduces navigation as a central concept for information retrieval and for information systems in general. The evolution of information systems is described; navigability as an aid to improve relevance is discussed; and a system under development that attempts to facilitate navigation for information retrieval is described. (31 references) (LRW)

Fax-on-demand is a response application that allows callers to use touchtone telephones to access databases and other information. The information is then delivered to the caller's fax machine. Ten sidebars describe a variety of specific services. (11 references) (DB)

Discusses how hypermedia interfaces can use graphic design and language to help users of hypermedia programs to structure a cognitive approach to information retrieval. Argues that such interfaces should acknowledge the medium's limits, identify authorship levels, define a program model, provide overviews, and narrow the navigation functions. (SR)

Economic growth will come from knowledge-based businesses whose "smart" products filter and interpret information. Businesses will come to think of themselves as educators and their customers as learners. (SK)

Systems dynamics, a computer-based tool for visualizing how parts of an organization work together over time, is a valuable tool in administrative decision making. Feedback loops among elements mimic complicated behavior in real or imagined situations. An experiment using the technique with a simple research funding model validated its utility.…

Discussion of virtual reality (VR) focuses on the promise that VR offers for information systems by describing current systems which use VR and by projecting possible developments for the future. Types of information problems which could be helped by VR are considered, as well as those that could not be helped. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

Examines the relationship between information and democracy through a framework of six stereotyped assumptions regarding ontology and epistemology, i.e., dogma, naturalism, cultural relativity, constructivism, postmodernism, and communitarianism. Implications for the design and implementation of information systems are discussed. (Contains 93…