Planning is presented as a process for developing desired organizational change focused on creating an alternative future more conducive and different from the one anticipated. A general planning template as well as five recognized and two emerging processes for planning are presented with a discussion of their uses; they are Rational…

The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to strategic planning in education, including basic principles, templates, and factors that led to its rise to become a recognized approach in educational planning, and in the issues that have led to increasing reliance on other approaches to educational planning.

Describes the first phase of a four-phase model. This phase is a simple interactive computer model for setting staff mix "target objectives." (Author/IRT)

Conflict within a university can produce beneficial results if it is managed properly. In a time of change, conflict may stimulate creativity as the members of a unit struggle to adjust to the new situation and survive. (Author/IRT)

Investigates factors contributing to instructional planning decisions of 274 randomly selected Alabama secondary school teachers. Draws conclusions from Teacher Planning Questionnaire responses and testing of null hypotheses. Experienced teachers were influenced more than inexperienced teachers by facilitating student learning factor. Teacher…

Offers a brief description of the overall activities and methods employed in Project SWEP and provides some detail on the ways in which a futures-orientation and methods associated with futures studies were used in the project. (Author/IRT)

Discusses various systems models and examines the conditions under which one educational system can be said to be better than another. (WM)

Discusses three issues that raise serious questions about the behavioral norms and moral obligations of educational planners. From a cost-benefit point of view, excessive planning is reached when overall societal costs exceed overall societal benefits. (Author/WM)

Continuing an earlier historical review of educational needs assessment (ENA) in the United States, this article considers certain criticisms of ENA in light of basic assumptions about the process; the relationship between ENA theories and practices; and their impact on schools and students. ENA's role in educational planning and renewal is also…