Three research questions are addressed in this paper: (1) What does school improvement mean in relation to the context of a research project? (2) Given particular developments in European society and the nature of primary research data, what should schools be like in the year 2001? (3) What steps are being taken in research and development to…

Environmental scanning (ES) is a formal process of assessing trends and forecasting events which can influence an institution so that the potential challenges and opportunities can be effectively anticipated during strategic planning activities. The goal of ES is the implementation of proactive, anticipatory policies that will be robust under a…

This monograph describes the concept of school district contracts with teacher partnerships for educational services; taking the view of education as an industry, the document analyzes advantages, obstacles, and strategies of such a change. Section 1, "The Challenge," suggests that societal changes make an education industry outside the…

Developments that will affect the continuing education field are discussed, with attention to the technology explosion, economic pressures, and modifications in the work force. The problem of short-term management orientation is addressed, along with the issues of state regulation of higher education and the use of telecommunications. If…

The report presents the findings, analysis, and conclusions of the external evaluation of the effectiveness of Alberta Education Library Services conducted between September 1985 and March 1986 under the guidance of the Library Services Evaluation Steering Committee (Phase 2 of the evaluation and planning process initiated in 1985 to clarify the…

Strategic planning is a technique that has been developed to help managers and leaders address the need for organizational transformation in response to societal change. Its elements include external environmental scanning, internal capacity analysis, participation and involvement, mission and strategic goals, implementation/linkage plans, and…

Based on the work of the Committee on the Future of the Virginia Community College System and group discussions by 100 representatives of colleges, business/industry, and state bodies, this long-range plan offers guidance for the development of the community college system for the remainder of the century. Following introductory information on the…

Health planning is a complex procedure in the American federal system of multi-authorities and multi-levels of responsibility. Because of its public nature, responsibility for the area of health planning is delegated to the health professional for its substantive dimension, but to the politician-bureaucrat and public-decision-maker for its policy…

The following considerations are of major importance to the persons who act as technical assisters for the Long Range Plan for School Improvement (LRPSI) in Pennsylvania: (1) long-range planning should be viewed as a deliberative and participative process; its steps should not be considered in isolation from each other; (2) comprehensive needs…

Starting with an analysis of technological change and innovation cycles, this paper explores the effects of information technology on education in Australia over the past decade. Taking into account current programs and policies concerning the introduction of information technology in education, the paper outlines possible directions for future…

After less than a decade from its inception, the introduction of new information technology in Australian education has already undergone some identifiable stages. These range from the scattered development of innovative programs to the formulation of state and national policies, from the original introduction of microcomputers into schools to the…

An institutional self-study undertaken by Appalachian State University, North Carolina, as part of the accreditation process is presented. This volume covers stages 8 through 12 of a 13-stage analysis, which was based on a "Futures Creating Paradigm" created by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. The 83…

The First Statewide Legislative Symposium on Rural Development reported that, while community facilities and housing are vital to the successful growth and renewal of New York's rural areas, these requirements are not being met for many rural communities. Rural population influxes have caused escalating costs for maintenance and improvement of…

Results of a 1983 survey on policy and practice in the employment of college graduates in 262 well-known business and industrial firms are presented. The number of companies hiring graduates in nine bachelors-level and five masters-level fields are specified for both 1983 and 1984, along with the number of graduates for each field and salary…

Outstanding Alaskan native art, historical art, historical objects, and archival materials continue to leave or remain outside the state because Alaskan museums, historical libraries, and archives do not have sufficient funding to compete effectively in the national and international markets where these objects are in great demand. In order to…