Academic planning in higher education is strongly influenced by business management theories and practices. The author questions the usefulness of this approach because the nature of higher education differs from the nature of a profit-making business. However, rational planning to achieve efficiency is relevant if efficiency is not confined to…

Communication and sexism are analyzed from a systemic perspective, illustrating how sexism is perpetuated through sexist interaction and symbol systems. Sexism is shown to be a disease in our society, which creates a societal situation with double-binding sex-role symbols which limit our adaptability. A remedy for sexism is suggested which…

A technique for the analysis of ecosystems developed by Odum focuses on the nature of interactions which take place within the system being considered. This technique can be used to assess the contribution of any variable to an interaction. Using data derived from previous research conducted by Feather, the authors employ this technique to examine…

Discussion of issues focuses on a bahavioral paradigm; the design of games and simulations consonant with the framework of that paradigm; and the simulation, Interact II, designed especially to operationalize that perspective. (CMV)

Organization Development (OD) is the application of behavioral-science knowledge to enhance an organization's effectiveness and efficiency. This article discusses the evolution of organization development, the basic components of an OD program, typologies of OD interventions, problems with organization development, and organization development in…

Describes the advantages of the development of open systems, i.e., a configuration which combines software and hardware from separate vendors into a single system, as a means of increasing the possible applications of library automation. (CLB)

Outlines factors used by online vendors to decide whether to bid on RFPs (requests for proposals) for library automation systems, including specifications for software, hardware or performance requirements not met by the vendor; specifications based on competitors' systems; the size and complexity of the request itself; and vendors' time…

This checklist provides guidance on how to measure adequacy of control and security of computer systems, identifies areas of risk, raises management and user awareness of their stewardship responsibilities, and reviews issues relative to system documentation, maintenance, integrity, and reliability. (MBR)

Maintains that a simple problem-solving model applied to policy design is inadequate. Argues that purposeful institutional change and government reorganization are not promising strategies for the improvement of public policy. (JDH)

This paper distinguishes between two ecological perspectives on organizational evolution: population ecology, which limits investigation to evolutionary change in established populations, and community ecology, which focuses on the rise and fall of populations themselves as basic units of evolutionary change. These perspectives produce contrasting…

Describes a modular approach to help select the most effective instruments for particular applications. In the approach, an instrument is considered to be a system composed of modules, each module performing a particular function. General input/output functions of various modules, how they modify signals, and module sensitivity are discussed. (JM)

To investigate means of converting management development programs into a successful organizational development process, managers' attitudes toward centralization and decentralization of functions and decisions, the importance of performed functions, their personal effectiveness, their managerial style, and what they prefer for executive…

The cost system designed as a sub-system of the Management Information System, to record and report cost data for occupational courses funded by the Illinois Division of Vocational and Technical Education, can stand alone if necessary, providing the flexibility essential to the success of the total system. (Flow chart included.) (Author/SA)

A systems approach provides planning by which counselors can (a) specify what they are trying to accomplish in operational terms, (b) develop specific procedures to promote these objectives, (c) monitor the client's progress continuously, and (d) determine empirically whether or not the counseling goals have been accomplished. (Author)

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)