This study explored the perceptions of Mexican senior government agency officials with regard to the impact of NAFTA on training and development practices in Mexico. This study was conducted using a phenomenological tradition within qualitative research. The major findings of the study indicate that Mexican senior government agency officials…

Activity theory (AT) is a powerful tool for investigating "artefacts in use", ie, the ways technologies interrelate with their local context. AT reveals the interfaces between e-learning at the macro- (strategy, policy, "campus-wide" solutions) and the micro-organisational levels (everyday working practice, iterative change, individual…

The first-ever U. S. Department of Education summit on sustainability, "Sustainability Education Summit: Citizenship and Pathways for a Green Economy," was held on Sept. 20-21, 2010, in Washington, D.C. The Sustainability Education Summit (the Summit) brought together leaders from higher education, business and industry, labor,…

This article reports on an evaluation methodology development study for K-12 school and university partnerships. The method is based on Engestrom's (1987). "Learning by expanding: An activity-theoretical approach to developmental research". Helsinki: Orienta-Konsultit Oy activity systems analysis that allows researchers to examine qualitative…

STEPS THAT THE LIBRARY CAN TAKE IN PREPARING FOR A CHANGE TO AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM WERE INVESTIGATED. THE METHOD DESCRIBED WAS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF CLERICAL AND OFFICE WORK CALLED INTEGRATED PROCEDURES OF CONTROL (IPC). THE APPLICATION OF LIBRARY SYSTEMS ANALYSIS (LISA) TO THE LEHIGH UNIVERSITY LIBRARY IS DESCRIBED. THIS PROCESS INVOLVED (1)…

This article proposes a conceptual framework for analysis, using some of the ideas embodied in the systems approach, which will enable the investigator to identify the relationships among program operations in a systematic manner, leading to a better understanding of the operations that produce program outputs." (Author)

The question: What is an IMC (instructional materials center)?" is explored and guidelines for evaluating the operation of an IMC are given. (NH)

A theory of solution synthesis is developed within the context of social behavior. (LR)

The "Goodbye To All That" (GOAT) Effect is introduced as a special research and evaluation "outcome" effect characterizing decision making unduly influenced by abandoning "write-off" tendencies. The "gradual refinement" approach offers an antidote to the GOAT Effect because it does not use the systems…

Processes of systems analysis and design as they might apply to curriculum problems are explicated, and the possible difficulties to be experienced are interpreted in the light of a typology of systems ranging from the deterministic to the indeterminate. (Author/JEG)

Organizations worldwide have been turning to Six Sigma program (SSP) to eliminate the defects in their products or drive out the variability in their processes to attain a competitive advantage in their marketplace. An effective certification program has been touted as a major contributor to successful implementation of SSP. An effective…

How should universities manage their research function? Today, research-based knowledge is viewed widely as fundamental to economic advancement. As a result, universities everywhere are facing pressure to rethink their research activities. A general model of the research process is presented here. Linkages are drawn between that process, other…

In this paper, we propose a conceptual and operational framework for process reengineering (PR) in higher education (HE) institutions. Using a case study aimed at streamlining exam scheduling and distribution in a distance learning (DL) unit, we outline a sequential and non-linear four-step framework designed to reengineer processes. The first two…

System Dynamics is a well formulated methodology for analyzing the components of a system including cause-effect relationships and their underlying mathematics and logic, time delays, and feedback loops. It began in the business and manufacturing world, but is now affecting education and many other disciplines. Having inspired by successful policy…