The author presents and discusses some basic characteristics of effective coalitions. These characteristics include clearly defined mission, emphasis of common ideology and goals, equal power among groups, effective leadership, overlapping interests and frequent member contacts, image of power, variable resources, and appropriate termination. (CT)

The literature suggests collaborative planning is purely egalitarian, but this article identifies a form called "dialectical collaboration" providing situationally determined variations in the locus of control. One district's experience planning an administrators' inservice program illustrates dialectical collaboration. The authors urge…

The purpose of this paper is not to discuss particular policy issues in aesthetic education but rather to address the process of and problems in policy formation: the context of policy, power structures, policy implementation, effectiveness criteria, and policy justification. (Author/SJL)

A case study of a college nursing program reveals the politics of planning in higher education and the need to be aware of power relations, negotiated interests, and ethical issues in order to effect meaningful change for students. (SK)

One approach to the implementation of community education is to solicit involvement and support for the idea from the informal power structure. The first step is to identify the informal power structure; one method is the reputational technique, in which selected members of a variety of organizations each nominate at least five people who have…

Reasons that Hunter College of the City University of New York developed a Women's Studies Program, rather than a department, in 1975-1976 are discussed. Attention is directed to the question of what courses should become part of the program, along with efforts to expand course offerings and to foster collaboration with other programs and…

The praxis orientation is proposed as an approach to school-based evaluation that enables professionals to understand power relationships and act toward empowerment of the local school community. The orientation is offered as an alternative to the positivist power-control approach, which is critiqued. (TJH)

Fragmentation of power within colleges and universities makes educational programs the element of higher education most resistant to organized change. However, over time, persistent and thoughtful leadership including encouragement of academic entrepreneurship and creation of agreement can transform these programs, as illustrated by the ongoing…

Organizational design for change of teacher education institutions should focus on the shaping of political activities through forums, arenas, and courts. Forums provide the medium for expression and competition of alternate ideas in the institution, and arenas are the medium for achieving group objectives through cooperation, contest, or…

This paper describes the positive changes in the organizational climate and the role of the principal in one high school during four years of implementing the Spencerport (New York) Effective Schools/Teaching Project. A gradual increase in the building level commitment of the project has led to a redefinition of leadership to include the Building…

This book contains eight papers reporting research projects that were conducted by adult language, literacy, and numeracy practitioners with funding provided through one-time scholarships to Tasmanian students in the field of adult language and literacy. The following papers are included: "Foreword" (Ian Falk); "Preface"…