Individual performers, work teams, and organizations may be considered complex adaptive systems, while most current human performance technologies appear to assume simple determinism. This article explores the apparent mismatch and speculates on future efforts to enhance performance if complexity rather than simplicity is assumed. Included are…

Information systems educators must balance the need to protect the stability, availability, and security of computer laboratories with the learning objectives of various courses. In advanced courses where students need to install, configure, and otherwise manipulate application and operating system settings, this is especially problematic as these…

This study compared how people working in three different types of organisations in the United States (K-12 schools, higher education, and business) rank the importance of eight conditions that have been shown to facilitate the implementation of innovations. The study also sought to determine if the nature of the innovation (i.e., technology or…

The never-ending organizational challenge is to allocate available resources to best achieve its goals. Out of this fundamental question several models have evolved. One is a conceptual model--a way to think about how organizations operate. A second is a statistical model estimating the magnitude of relationships among goals and elements of the…

Teacher evaluation has emerged as a major focus for reform at the highest levels of education policymaking, and for good reason. Most evaluations are based on scant evidence of actual effectiveness, produce inflated ratings, and provide teachers with little useful feedback. This paper offers policymakers and practitioners important "lessons…

This article provides brief descriptions of the latest product releases in the education market. These products include hardware, software, and resources. The following products are presented in this article, but not limited to: (1) Radius Audio Learning System(www.learningresources.com); (2) The Indigo Learning System from LearningSoft, LLC…

Examines learning and performance diagnosis, separately and in relation to each other, as they function in organization systems; explains the relationship between learning and performance diagnosis at the individual, process, and organizational levels using a three-level performance model; and discusses types of learning, including nonlearning,…

Discussion of the ISPI (International Society for Performance Improvement) definition of human performance technology and the need to use performance improvement concepts from other fields focuses on applying systems thinking and systematic methodology from management design. Describes the application of these techniques in teaching a graduate…

Examines barriers that performance consultants face when selling an organization on HPT (human performance technology), such as establishing credibility, learning the language of the business, and demonstrating the ability to run the HPT function as a business. Explores strategies that can be employed to eliminate or reduce barriers. (Author/LRW)

Considers how results of systematic data collection can be used in decision making and how they are often not used properly. Examines two similar yet distinctive perspectives by which the performance technologist can assist organizational leaders in making difficult decisions based on valid and useful data. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the use of process improvement in performance technology to address industry's problems in quality, timeliness, and cost reduction. Examines both successes and failures that resulted from a focus on process and suggests that process improvement is used most effectively in conjunction with other performance tools and concepts. (Author/LRW)

Discusses the use of HPT (human performance technology) to get results that add value. Topics include ISD (instructional systems design) and desired results, other than achieving agreed-on learning objectives; cost effectiveness; systemic approaches; and results that can be seen in the performance of individuals. (LRW)

Discusses William of Occam's "razor" principle of scientific philosophy that given more than one theory, explanation, or definition of something, the simplest one is probably the best and helps us to "shave off" concepts, variables or constructs that are not needed to explain the phenomenon. Applies this principle to human…

Discusses measurement in performance improvement, including the Kirkpatrick four-level model of evaluation for training, and adding value. Highlights include adding value at all levels of organizational performance, for the clients and society; other models of performance improvement; the major focus of HPT (human performance technology); and…

Provides an overview of major models in HPT (human performance technology). Highlights include diagnostic models that show where HPT can be applied; process models that show how HPT can be applied; and holistic models that are nonlinear and consist of domains that exist separately but can be combined to form an ideal performance zone. (Author/LRW)