The contents of this volume are directed to designers and managers of staff development programs. It is designed to provide a systemic consideration of all factors involved, including the long-range goals of staff development, the behaviors of the people involved, the interface of existing organizational structures, and the mechanisms for program planning and development. The potential for systemic educational programs is described, models of programs are presented, and implications for teacher education are discussed. The dimensions of educational systems and change are outlined in the first two chapters. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on changing people. The attitudes, aptitudes, perspectives, and values of the professional staff to be trained, the trainers of the staff, and the community as a composite of individuals, are considered as interacting elements in the change process. The fifth and sixth chapters examine inservice education from the communication/organizational perspective. The structures for staff development programs are described in rural and urban setings. The last section considers programs and their development. Emphasis is placed on the importance of needs assessment in developing an inservice program. An approach to planning that has proved effective in a number of workshops is provided. (JD)