Purpose: The purpose of this action research is to gain insight into how people learn to think systemically. An examination of the themes that emerged from this action research will be undertaken. Design/methodology/approach: An action research approach was adopted which involved the collection and reading of 120 journals that were kept by…

An important objective of science and technology education is the development of pupils' capacity for systems thinking. While in science education the term system relates mainly to structures and phenomena in the natural world, technology education focuses on systems designed to fulfill people's needs and desires: examples include systems to…

Developmentalists are generally interested in systems perspectives and this is reflected in the theoretical models of the past decade. However, the methodological tools to test these models are either nonexistent or difficult for many researchers to use. This article reviews the state space grid (SSG) method for analyzing synchronized event…

Universities today are increasingly being viewed in terms of serving the purpose of economic development. This paper postulates that their chief purpose is to advance knowledge and that in doing so they effectuate regional economic growth and development through processes specified in the endogenous economic growth model. To achieve this purpose…

Since its first publication more than 15 years ago, the Systems Theory Framework (STF) has become an established metatheoretical framework in the international career development literature. Ten years into its history, the first review of its development was published. The present article overviews the expansion of the STF literature since that…

In this article, the author discusses how an instructional leader can overcome organizational inertia and create a genuine systemic change by starting small. To make a successful change, an organization must do the following: (1) Find the right staff and a powerful idea; (2) Provide a sponsor; (3) Start small; (4) Get results; (5) Find a…

Douglas Ehninger's conceptualization of rhetorical theories as "systems" has been criticized for its vagueness in terminology, its potentially skewed perspective, and its inability to apply a stasis to a kinetic phenomenon--namely, rhetoric. The seven recommendations offered in this paper attempt to expand upon the approach and correct…

A look at the Center for Cooperative Research with Schools (CReWS), which attempts to spread systems approaches to teaching throughout Pennsylvania. (HB)

Paper argues that a better way to start curriculum planning is by performing an educational systems design which considers knowledge needs along with the need to clarify values and make effective decisions. One result of this design work is the new teaching-learning approach called Guided Design. (Author/HB)

Results of preliminary field work with a number of educational agencies in the Atlanta area attempting to assess the interest of key decision-makers in such agencies in systems analysis approaches to problems and the level of problem with which such interest is embraced is reported. (Author)

The Civic Center in Scarborough, Ontario, has an open interior design that incorporates an atrium. Fire protection elements include automatic sprinklers, provisions for efficient exiting of building occupants, and smoke evacuation by gravity exhaust. (Available from 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, $15.00 annually.) (Author/MLF)

The methodology, assumptions, and values viewed here are emergent factors that can provide the framework for a thriving new discipline. That the limits of the rational-man theory are beginning to be recognized is evidenced by considerable methodological flexibility and increased interests in personal, self-actualizing aspects of organizations.…

A simplified form of utility theory is applied to libraries to provide a tool for defining library goals and analyzing library behavior. (Author/PF)

This paper presents a model of an abstract tutorial system. The first section discusses some of the problems encountered in producing courseware and examines the availability of software tools to support effective communication on three levels: (1) accuracy of communication; (2) transmission of the desired meaning; and (3) affecting conduct in a…