To explore communication patterns within organizations, a network analysis was conducted of a large New York financial institution with 98 departments and 66 branches. Functional analysis revealed that departments had more and stronger communication linkages than did branches. Departments were also closer in communication distances than branches.…

Describes a methodology for management information systems design that employs a formalized framework for significantly involving manager-users in the design process. A key element of the methodology is the development of descriptive and normative system models based on the concept of a "linear responsibility chart." (Author/JG)

The implementation of this model would assess specific performance tasks, working traits, and socioeconomic traits of the students who complete the occupational program in order to provide both empirical and judgmental data about specific portions of the curriculum. (Author/NHM)

The concept of a qualitative model provides a unifying perspective for understanding how expert systems differ from conventional programs. Knowledge bases contain qualitative models of systems in the world, that is, primarily non-numeric descriptions that provide a basis for explaining and predicting behavior and formulating action plans. The…

This report, written for state legislators, law enforcers, and researchers, presents the results and recommendations of a study of youth crime and juvenile justice in California. Part I, The Control of Youth Crime in California Today, discusses juvenile crime rates, the processing of juvenile arrests, and arrest disposition patterns. Part II, The…

Describes a project designed to improve services to library users by solving, through application of operations research methods, a complex problem of delivery of library materials in an urban, multisystem library service region. (Author/PF)

Management theories are discussed as they apply to library management and administration and to specific areas of library service. (Author/PF)

Explores the relevance of some of the methodologies of systems engineering to problems in the social sciences, especially the dynamics of domestic and international conflict. Describes an initial exercise in modeling domestic conflict in terms of State equations. Implications for education. (Author/WM)

This study evaluates contract services in reference and printed materials of the Maryland Interlibrary Organization (MILO)-Central (a network of public, county, and academic libraries) as performed by the County Services Department. Procedures and record-keeping processes--i.e., organization, basic operations, and request volume--are analyzed from…

The Management Responsibility Guidance (MRG) process is a matrix management program designed to clarify roles and improve staff integration, decision-making, effectiveness, and productivity. In 1976-77, Los Angeles County (California) used this approach in four pilot special education schools. As part of the MRG process, each staff member…