Profiles of Organizational Influence Strategies were completed by 529 office workers. Except for reason, they used all strategies (friendliness, bargaining, coalition, assertiveness, and authority) more than mangers did. Bargaining and authority were used more with coworkers than with managers; bargaining was used more for personal requests and…

Presents (in narrative form) selected findings from a study in south Georgia schools on ability grouping and alternative structures, from the viewpoints of a child, teachers, and administrators. Concludes that program improvement can be realized when teachers participate in decisions affecting their work and have continuous administrative support.…

Tired of disjointed programs and projects, the staff of Newtown (Connecticut) Public Schools developed their own Success-Oriented School Model, blending elements of Deming's 14 points with William Glasser's approach to quality. To obtain quality outcomes means stressing continuous improvement and staying close to the customer. (six references)…

High school biology students (n=451) were actively engaged in a dialog regarding specific nursing situations. The process was found to be highly effective in expanding students' image of nursing and moderately successful in increasing their valuation of nursing. (JOW)

The new strategic planning system in Dutch higher education is described and the usefulness of strategic planning in higher education institutions in general is discussed. Three models are distinguished: linear, adaptive, and interpretive. Evidence suggesting the system has resulted in more homogenization than diversification is presented.…

The Boards of Trustees of institutions of higher education can have a major impact in encouraging faculty and administration to engage in major curriculum reform which considers the world outside academia and financial realities. Frequent informal contacts between trustees and faculty can increase respect and understanding and thus the trustee's…

The reductionists' insignificance paradigm says teacher education is in such poor condition, there is no reason to strengthen the existing model. The reconstructionists' prominence paradigm says though radical changes are necessary; the path to effective teachers is through restructured teacher education. The article describes several prominence…

Looks at the views of some of the seminal contributors to the development of conflict theory and then describes the broad range of library conflicts, the value and danger of those conflicts, and some techniques for lowering or raising the level of conflict. (14 references) (LAE)

In "Ready to Learn: A Mandate for the Nation," Ernest L. Boyer examines the challenges posed by the school readiness national goal. The seven-step strategy for achieving this goal includes a healthy start, empowered parents, quality preschool experience, a responsive workplace, television as teacher, neighborhoods for learning, and…

An approach to analysis of educational reform on college campuses that focuses on movement toward, rather than organizational manifestations of, change is described. Four stages include (1) the decision to act consistently with principles; (2) establishment of internal organizational support; (3) going public with intentions; and (4) emergence of…

By examining the structures and activities common to six case studies of clinical teacher supervision, this article identifies five conditions that facilitate changes in teacher thinking and behavior: development of a supportive, collegial relationship; teacher control over supervision products; continuity over time; focused, descriptive records…

At least one private college, Bennington College (Vermont), has cut tuition, as part of a larger restructuring project. More may follow suit, in hopes of attracting more students. Guidelines to help institutions determine whether such a strategy could be cost effective for them are offered. (MSE)

Advocates taking advantage of pedagogically driven new-generation information management systems (IMSs) to manage curriculum, instruction, and assessment in change-oriented schools seeking to enhance effectiveness. Delineates a curriculum information management model and describes an exemplar of a new generation of IMS software. Suggests…

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…

Northeastern University (Massachusetts) has reduced its size by one-fifth, cut $60-million from its budget, eliminated 700 jobs, dropped or merged several programs, frozen salaries, and cut other costs in a successful retrenchment effort. Many agree the "rightsizing" was handled in a fair, humane way; others are angered. (MSE)