Support for producing systematic reviews about health systems is less well developed than for those about clinical practice. From interviewing policy makers and systematic reviewers we identified institutional mechanisms which bring systematic reviews and policy priorities closer by harnessing organisational and individual motivations, emphasising…

Supply Chain Management, the coordination of upstream and downstream flows of product, services, finances, and information from a source to a customer, has risen in prominence over the past fifteen years. The delivery of a product to the consumer is a complex process requiring action from several independent entities. An individual firm consists…

The question of the manner in which universities have organised themselves to embed the "quality" agenda in Scotland is addressed in this paper by considering whether the seemingly different structures generated are in fact sophisticated and efficient forms of resource allocation, or organic and emergent structures with only local…

A model that, although altered to fit the specific needs of each energy study, has basic steps that are helpful in planning, organizing, and implementing a total energy program. (Author/MLF)

Describes Fault Tree Analysis, a tool for systems analysis which attempts to identify possible modes of failure in systems to increase the probability of success. The article defines the technique and presents the steps of FTA construction, focusing on its application to education. (RAO)

A workshop conducted for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation served to orient field and central staff with a multi-disciplinary, generalist approach to environmental impact review. The program was designed to provide content input from many different environmentally-related disciplines. It was also designed to assist staff…

A pilot project tested the feasibility of developing computer simulation models as aids to the operation and design of library systems. (Author/PF)

In this paper the roles and functions of man in the evolution and development of two complex specific systems within the Army operational environment are discussed. It is pointed out that throughout the course of historical development, the basic system functions and objectives have remained unchanged even though the system equipments have varied.…

This project was an experimental effort to study, analyze, and understand interlibrary networks. The immediate purpose of the project was to develop methodologies for evaluating or analyzing networks; the ultimate purpose was to provide planning assistance to network funders, designers or operators. The project was conducted in four simultaneous…

A comprehensive engineering approach to the analysis of libraries as information service systems is described in which operations research type models are developed and tested for optimizing the design and management of document storage and retrieval processes. Extension of this approach to the development of more comprehensive system models is…

Systems analysis, in this context, is not the process which is the necessary prelude to library automation; it is something more basic. It involves seeking out the fundamentals of a situation and applying scientific methods to their study, to find an optimal solution to the problems facing the manager. (20 references) (Author/TW)

Program changes inherent in the CETA concept have markedly decreased the effectiveness of previous program management and liaison strategies. Some reasons for this decrease and a new set of skills for working at the interface between prime sponsors and subcontractors and/or the regional offices are presented. (Author)

The greater organizational complexity of libraries and information centers in recent years has given rise to more complex problems for managers. To facilitate solutions, operations research (OR) techniques have been developed that consider the quantitative dimensions of problems along with their political and organizational aspects. Eight standard…

This bibliography lists 155 books, articles, monographs, and other studies on operations analysis in education. The criteria for inclusion are that the study be quantitative and analytical and use techniques of operations research, systems analysis, management science, program planning and budgeting, benefit analysis, cost analysis, benefit-cost…

This report, a clear statement of how one district developed a planning system, offers both a theoretical and a practical approach to providing the superintendent, his staff, and the board of education with a comprehensive planning system instrument for making policy decisions and allocating resources. Also provided are guidelines for involving…