The change process consists of a series of stages, beginning with awareness of organizational dysfunction and culminating in successful implementation of change. Difficulties in instigating change in schools are due to: (a) diffused and poorly defined school goals and objectives; (b) a school environment of conflicting and contradictory…

The proposed merger of the Rye City and Rye Neck school districts in Westchester County, New York, is described. An overview of the two school systems is presented, with a discussion of the principles and issues involved in the proposed merger. Based on hypothetical data for future years, an examination is made of enrollment expectations, facility…

The advantages of the 45-15 school schedule for students, teachers, and parents and for building economy are outlined. The model presented shows various constraints affecting the operation of a 45-15 schedule and suggests maxims to improve scheduling. Assorted schedule variations are explained in the text and illustrated in sketches. (Page 14 may…

Mid-career is a time period when the knowledge and skills acquired during a collegiate education begin to approach obsolescence unless constantly renewed. Several studies had reported that peak performance of engineers and scientists occurs in the thirties and early forties. If these observations are correct, the updating process must be viewed as…

Herein are discussed descriptive findings from the educational literature on the question of what variables appear important in changing traditional in-service training procedures. The question of the content versus the process of in-service training, important problems in in-service training programs, and implications of the important problems…

This study presents a theoretical discussion analyzing and explaining the use of group methods in feeding back diagnostic data to organizations. A new design -- the peer group-intergroup model -- is presented and compared to the traditional family group model. Data evaluating one implementation of this design showed that it was associated with…

A successful conflict manager in the field of education (1) is aware of the problems facing the young, the oppressed, and the sensitive; (2) is harshly realistic about his own personal and role limitations; (3) attempts wherever possible to substitute collective judgments for personal discretion; (4) possesses the leadership and organizational…

Organizational training aims at increasing the problem-solving effectiveness of groups by harnessing emotional states and enabling participants to function efficiently as working components of a task-oriented body. A three-step sequence for using organizational training in schools would: (1) improve communication skills of personnel, (2) change…

This annotated bibliography includes entries to reflect the thrust of the entire Administering for Change Program (ACP) of Research for Better Schools, Inc. The goal of ACP is to create in institutional change capability for local school districts. This volume is divided into six sections. Section One, Introduction, describes, ACP. Section Two,…

In discussing what is meant by the concept "organization," the author raises the questions, "What is an organization that it can have such a thing as a goal?" and, assuming it appropriate to speak of organizational goals, "how do the goals of individuals bear on those of the organization?" The author submits that answers to these questions raise…

This report outlines the history of the centralization-decentralization dilemma in the goverance of organizations, discusses two types of centralization-decentralization continua, and suggests further research. The first type of continuum discussed -- the traditional American -- refers to decisionmaking in the areas of public debate and partisan…

The Sports Institute for Research Through Change Agent Research (SIR/CAR) provides a service whereby organizations through an audit and feedback system prognosticate and identify problems in order to avoid situations discordant with their organizational goals and objectives. This document reports the organizational crisis that faced the Windsor…

This simulation employs a case history of an actual crisis intervention in a municipal agency to describe the general principles of change within a social system, to explain the role of the consultants in the change process, and to illustrate a rationale for change procedures. Specifically, the intervention strategy employed to solve internal…

Discusses the use of conflict management and organizational development techniques to develop collaborative decision-making in an organization. (Available from The Conference Board Record, Box 908 SDR P.O. Station, New York, NY 10022; $30.00 annually, $1.50 single copy.) (JG)

Discusses Chicago's recent adoption of a new personnel system patterned closely after the Model Public Personnel Administration Law developed by the National Civil Service League (NCSL). Describes major provisions of NCSL's model law and relates the process used by NCSL to develop, evaluate, and encourage adoption of the model law. (JG)