Discusses why it is essential to look at costs related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) faculty not simply as a critical expense, but as part of an intentional investment strategy meant to produce an important and significant value-added benefit. Offers advice on planning, financing, and assessing this investment. (EV)

Discusses the need for libraries to engage in strategic planning rather than reacting to change. Highlights include long-range planning techniques; focusing on vision and the organizational environment; defining the planning process, including the role of the staff and prioritizing; common pitfalls; and experiences at the Ann Arbor District…

Educators are once again called upon to resolve a national dilemma: to recognize and legitimize differences, yet construct an overarching identity that incorporates all voices into one. Strong leadership, strategic planning, and an unwavering commitment to children must be the touchstones of educational decisions. (Contains 17…

Describes a successful strategic planning process at a large community college, which linked the analytic inputs of research with the authority and intuition of leaders. Reports key factors attributed to the process' success, including a collegial and organized structure, detailed project management plans, and confidence in the environmental scan.…

Assesses the factors that universities need to consider when developing a strategic response to "borderless education," discusses certain instruments which may be used in strategic analysis, and considers some options in the areas of organizational structures, support infrastructure, personnel policy, and quality assurance. (EV)

Strategic planning for public libraries as advocated by the PLA (Public Library Association) in the Public Library Development Program is likely to be met with resistance due to changes it requires in traditional public library planning and services. Conflicts that may arise are discussed, as well as methods for preventing, minimizing, and…

Recounts personal experiences in the design of simulations/gaming for city development and planning. Notes early games and describes the development of three land use and city growth games. Discusses revisions, conference demonstrations of the games, and collaborative efforts. (AEF)

Provides a framework for strategic planning for organizational development; identifies a societally-referenced "mega-level" of planning. Discusses needs assessment, quality management, benchmarking, and reengineering processes for defining and delivering a useful future for both the organization and society. (AEF)

Presents findings from activities undertaken by the North Central Association to determine strategic planning needs for 1995-2000, including a survey of 213 member schools and an environmental scan. Indicates that 91% of the members expressed the importance of keeping schools informed about standards. Lists eight critical elements discovered in…

Higher education leaders have always considered the physical plant as an asset but may have little understanding of its dimensions as a liability, particularly higher debt service requirements for facility improvement or replacement. Strategic planning will be increasingly important in addressing campus facilities needs. (MSE)

Presents a strategic planning model originally developed for university research and illustrates its usefulness for academic libraries. Library development and fund-raising activities are used as examples to illustrate the various stages of strategic planning, including scanning the environment, designing the plan, acceptance, and adoption.…

Presents a methodology for marketing an information service which focuses on including information users in the strategic marketing planning process. Identifies the following stages of a marketing planning process: analysis of the environment, information audit, information needs assessment, market opportunity analysis, tactical marketing program,…

Five criteria for judging college or university performance indicators (PIs) used to guide strategic decision making are outlined. The criteria address: purpose; alignment of PIs throughout the organization or system; alignment of PIs across inputs, processes, and outcomes; capacity to accommodate a variety of evaluation methods; and utility in…

In response to the passage of the Goals 2000: Education America Act, states are actively working to bring their educational programs in line with the act's requirements. Steven A. Melnick describes initiatives under way in Pennsylvania at the local, regional, and state levels. Gary Farland takes a brief look at how Minnesota may draw on its…

Discusses developments in the three largest consumer online services, CompuServe, Prodigy, and America Online. Highlights include competition, strategic planning, service fees, access to information, graphics, price wars, content development, and interface improvement. (AEF)