The author offers information for the design of a vocational education research and development outputs delivery system. He discusses factors in the current context of research and development that may influence system design and identifies tentative problem areas. (MF)

Stresses the interrelation of the components of learning systems and analyzes the categories of costs involved, based on a life cycle assumption. The phases of human subsystem development are explored, and a basic formula is proposed to estimate costs. (VT)

Describes the major features of the systems approach developed by ITRO with emphasis on the navy training evaluation plan proposed to ensure quality control, as well as an assessment of the adequacy of the training through a careful study of the proficiency of the trained man. (VT)

The Systems Movement has gained considerable impetus in this decade. This article reflects on the applicability of a systems approach to many problems in numerous fields. Two books related to this topic are reviewed in detail with content summaries and analyses. (MA)

Describes the inability of traditional subject index terms to represent relational information among concepts, and the development of frame based knowledge representation methods that provide relational semantic representations of documents and user queries. The discussion covers research in user interfaces and automatic document classifications,…

Describes the use of machine aided indexing as part of NASA's information systems. The discussion covers reasons for incorporating machine aided indexing, the lexical dictionary used, subject switching, natural language processing, benefits to the system, and possible future developments. (CLB)

Discusses the feasibility and advantages of developing an enhancement for document retrieval systems that would automatically impose Boolean syntax on an input set of search terms. An online specification for such an enhancement is presented, based on experimental results using the MEDLINE database. (13 references) (CLB)

Description of the history of a statewide interlibrary loan and electronic mail telecommunications network highlights difficulties and reinforces the idea that off-the-shelf systems are preferable to in-house system development. Recommendations include: solicit expert technical advice (including review by an independent programmer); choose…

Focuses on the role of the computer system in group decision making. Two systems used in solving negotiating problems--NEGO and MEDIATOR--and three procedures that can be utilized to develop group decision support systems are analyzed, based on multicriteria decision analysis and mathematical programming models. (Author/LRW)

The automation of online order retrieval for Chemical Abstracts Service Document Delivery Service was accomplished by shifting to an order retrieval/dispatch process linked to a Unix network. The Unix-based environment, its terminal emulation, page-break, and user-friendly interface software, and later enhancements are reviewed. Resultant increase…

This description of the development of expert systems designed to solve management problems focuses on the issue of corporate divestment as an example. Software needs are discussed, and an example of a management expert system for divestment analysis at James Madison University is briefly described. (Author/LRW)

Reviews Oregon State University Communication Media Center's experiences in designing, developing, and using a computerized scheduling system to help with the center's operation. Description includes purposes for developing the system, creation of the system using a commercial database management software package, and the five menus used in the…

Describes the use of a decision support system to operate on a database for academic scheduling. Discusses the scheduling environment, database subsystem, dialog subsystem, modeling subsystem, and output formats. (JM)

The US Department of Education's plan to redesign the systems used to deliver student financial aid--the Integrated Student Aid Delivery System (ISADS) Project--is discussed. Background on the origins of the ISADS project is provided and its broad implications for postsecondary institutions are considered. (MLW)

Proposals are made for practical approaches to the design of electronic office systems to provide for the effective storage and retrieval of the documents that they generate. Problems of records management and requirements to be met by the designer of an electronic office system are highlighted. Nineteen references are cited. (EJS)