The University of Queensland's social consultancy curriculum helps change agents develop such skills as flexibility, confidence, and judgment. The program uses systems concepts, process consultation, action research, and the models of Argyris and Schon to help future consultants understand people and social systems. (SK)

Introduces design, integrated with systems thinking, as a necessary if not sufficient means for meeting the challenge of how to create or recreate organizations and institutions. The limits of problem-solving strategies when applied to complex organizational change, the designer's role, and the creative process of design are discussed. (Contains…

This article presents challenges facing child mental health services research and the contributions made by the series of papers in this journal issue. The series illustrates two major categories of services research: systems level research and clinical services level research. Methodological issues, particularly for randomized clinical trials in…

Orange Grove Middle School in Tucson, Arizona, is part of a movement to transform schools into learning organizations. Systems thinking, combined with the related disciplines of building a shared vision, working with mental models, team learning, and personal mastery, is the essential component. The key to effective leadership is harnessing the…

The Crawford County (Pennsylvania) Excellence Council helped a school superintendent revamp the district's dysfunctional work order system by providing TQM (total quality management) training to five teams of workers. The result was total quality transformation of a work process that transcended mere problem solving. (MLH)

Describes two ways of organizing distance education: using telecommunications to duplicate traditional classroom teaching; and reorganizing educational resources with a total systems perspective, including sources of knowledge, structures of knowledge, and media of communication. An example from higher education is discussed, students'…

Educators' most pressing leadership challenge is tapping each individual's full mental capacity and evoking the highest levels of quality, performance, and productivity. Building learning communities depends on resolving issues related to quality and excellence, governance and restructuring, organizational linkages, diversity as capacity, better…

Discusses experimental work with computer-simulated microworlds as a means for overcoming the tension between laboratory research and field research in psychology. Topics addressed include characteristics of microworlds; examples of microworlds; and three approaches to research with microworlds, including the individual differences approach, case…

Peter Senge explains how his book, "The Fifth Disciple," will change minds about systems thinking, personal growth, and work. He talks about what led him to write the book and what it takes to become a learning organization. (JOW)

This first part of a report originally published in 1992 compares micrographics and digital imaging as methods for preserving printed materials. Topics addressed include costs, standards, ease of access, optical disks, archival quality, resolution, and the benefits of a hybrid-system approach that combines technologies. (Contains nine references.)…

Presents the Gifted Identity Formation Model, an effort to bridge theoretical and practical aspects of identity formation in gifted students in the context of the counseling process. The model relates four constructs (validation, affirmation, affiliation, affinity) across 12 systems (such as self, family, culture, education, social relationships,…

Argues that we can help develop resilience in youth by using a nontraditional approach to changing the fragmented manner in which most services are provided. This approach can include demonstrating desired behaviors instead of relying on the enforcement of mandates or directives to support the change process. (GCP)

Argues that governmental pressures on universities force change that can have positive effects on the institution's teaching function when guidelines based on sociological systems theory are followed. Offers as a successful example the Enterprise in Higher Education Initiative in the United Kingdom which focused on curricular change, and as an…

A national survey of 243 community agencies evaluated services provided for individuals with developmental disabilities who exhibit high-risk sexual behaviors and identified issues and service gaps. Common offenses were sexual behavior in public situations, inappropriate involvement of others, and involvement of minors. Major issues and problems…

Using an applied ecological model, this study focuses on contextual risk factors of elder abuse. Five levels of environment were used to interpret existing research on risk factors. Configuration of risk factors provides a framework for understanding the intergenerational character of quality of life for older adults, developing recommendations…