Advocates viewing the foster family and its specific problems as an open social system, as opposed to the closed, boundary-maintaining system of the nuclear family. (CM)

A preengineered building has the advantages of factory production and computerized quality control. Insulation efficiency and a roofing system that enables the entire roof membrane to react a full two inches to any temperature-induced movement are two of the innovations of preengineered building research. (Author/MLF)

The design, application, and evaluation of an eco-model for cigarette smoking education is proposed. (MM)

Force field analysis combines the advantages of the basic organization, objectivity, and science of systems theory and systems methods, with a simplicity and clarity that allows its mastery by policy-makers and administrators who are not specialists in engineering, data processing, or programming. (Author/IRT)

Used Lausanne Triadic Play paradigm to examine the stability and predictive validity of cooperative, moderate, collusive, and disordered triadic family alliances during play in infancy. Triadic alliances describe families' fulfillment of functions of participation, organization, focal attention, and affective contact during play. Found that…

Discusses Adolph's research on locomotion with regard to the requirements of an ecological psychology, especially the use of control laws; her examination of individual styles and normative patterns as it reflects a dynamic systems perspective; and her use of cognitive processes of decision making in explaining why infants approach or avoid a…

Summarizes leading scholars' findings in leadership theory, local politics and government, state and national school politics, and change theory. Integrating this knowledge into a systematic reform effort requires superintendents with integrity and vision; political stability; good board/superintendent relations; long-term, statewide commitment;…

The Family Assessment Device was given to 40 families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and 20 families of hearing children in Turkey. Significant differences were found between the two groups in problem solving, but not in communication, roles, affective responses, affective involvement, behavior control, and general functioning. (DB)

Compares a soft system model of teaching with a hard systems model for learning, essential components of which are perception, memory, and concept formation. Proposes a combination of soft systems thinking and hard systems instruction as a scientific basis for the craft of teaching. (SK)

Analyzes 50 recent Australian vocational education and training research studies using an organizational theory framework to assess the degree of organizational and socioeconomic complexity. Finds that most explore the familiar (organizational) domain and only three investigate problems involving both organizational and socioeconomic domains.…

Defines work built around a systems view of consumers and producers to characterize work as seen through different cultures as a mingling of enjoyment. Shows how emerging agricultural settlements and cities resulted in families assuming inherited work or labor specialties to be passed to the next generation. Discusses generational concepts of work…

Some parents of children with multiple disabilities appear to deny that their children have intellectual disabilities. Health care professionals may be challenged in working with these parents during the assessment and intervention process. This article introduces the collaborative-resource approach from family systems theory in which family…

Discusses high-involvement work teams, in which groups of workers participate in improving their work activities; describes how a typical work team progresses through a project; and introduces a systems model of interrelated steps through which teams may progress to solve problems. (LRW)

Discusses the accelerating pace of change that librarians must cope with and suggests looking to the private sector for strategies to become more comfortable with change. Describes the five disciplines comprising the learning organization culture: systems thinking, personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, and team learning. (LRW)

Highlights and organizes ideas regarding family therapy and wider contexts. Reviews the historical underpinnings of a contextual family therapy view, critiques the systems model, and offers an epistemological orientation that includes wider contexts. Also reviews related clinical practices and offers recommendations for future theory and practice…