The publication reports the findings of the first year of an ongoing study of career development systems in law enforcement. It focuses on the need to develop four capabilities: identification of organizational needs, identification of individual attributes and interests, reconciliation of the needs of the organization with the needs of available…

Rather than being motivated to assist people, individuals usually approach a career as a consultant with aspirations of obtaining prestige or supplementing their income. Being a speech teacher, although helpful, is not qualification enough for a position as a consultant in the areas of management and organizational behavior. The types of…

This report presents a theoretical model and a practical guide for a survey feedback-problem solving-collective decision intervention in educational systems. The intervention focuses on work roles and relationships; job function, authority, and communication patterns; and on reviewing group progress and problems. One objective of the strategy is…

Two approaches to psychological consultation were combined for school staff development and improved organizational functioning: data feedback with group discussion. The staffing team revised its procedures to utilize time of teachers and special services personnel more efficiently, to improve staffing team morale, and to provide better services…

The author focuses on training practices in Nigeria and issues that influence these practices. Background information on supervisory and management training in Nigeria and cross-cultural perspectives are provided. The article is based on information taken from interviews with personnel and training managers in Nigerian manufacturing companies in…

Offers suggestions for school boards to follow to help keep divisiveness from hampering the board's effectiveness. These include reorganizing the board structure, using ad hoc committees to avoid board conflict, and having an impartial chairman with good leadership abilities. (MD)

Examines reasons for discourse communities becoming a subject of writing research. Provides a brief example of the kind of analysis possible, focusing on the composing environments of two similar organizations. (AEW)

Research in educational administration needs a coherent empirical base for a comprehensive, ecologically valid theory of administration. This paper describes Roger Barker's Behavior Setting Theory and promotes it as a broad-based conceptual framework for research on educational administration. (Author/TE)

A model for systematic development and reorganization of college governance systems consists of three processes: reviewing the existing governance structure; examining the concerns and interrelationships of individuals and groups; and pinpointing desired changes. All must be done in the context of linking governance to overall institutional…

The laboratory method has institutionalized itself in the larger social system, and an investigation of how this came about provides an important case study of social intervention. Uses of the method's intrinsic "change-agent" concept are illustrated, and particular aspects of the growth of the movement are examined. (Author)

Inquiry, exploration and valuing were elements of the appreciative inquiry process used in this year's Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP) Leadership Advisory Council to discern the strengths of Extension and its personnel and to help envision a vital future that builds on those strengths. Before the meeting, participants…

When consumers perceive a lessening in the value of any particular good or service provided by a free-market private enterprise, the likelihood of exit (that is, their choice of an alternative provider) is high. Parents of students enrolled in public schools, on the other hand, typically have not been able to choose an alternative service…

Highlighting reflection, collaboration, and regularity of effective supervision, this booklet explores the link between supportive supervisory practices and effective staff-parent relationships in early childhood and family programs. Program leaders who wish to promote high-quality services to the infants, toddlers, and families can use the…

Change is the most prominent characteristic of society and business today. Change is driven by people, technology, and information. In order to remain competitive in the job market, people must constantly update their knowledge. The education system must be evaluated and changed to meet the needs of the economy. Parents and educators need to…

The School-Based Management Project was designed to determine how School-Based Management (SBM), when combined with curriculum and instruction reform, could work to improve the performance of schools. This report presents findings of a study that examined American, Canadian, and Australian schools that exhibited a range of success in restructuring…