The concepts of long-range planning and strategic planning are explained, and a planning model is proposed. Attention is directed to an environmental scanning model that is congruent with the concept of strategic planning and that emerges from one portion of the futures research community, issues management. A third planning model, the strategic…

Understanding the link between futures research and strategic planning is crucial to effective long-range planning and administration. Current trends and the latest developments in the methodology of futures research are discussed. (MLW)

Increasing demands for accurate forecasts in such areas as student enrollment, energy expenditures, and facility capacity are placing new demands on the institutional researcher. A variety of forecasting models and methods are available, all to be used with caution in long-range forecasting. (Author/MSE)

Offers a sequential model of futures research techniques that is applied to a hypothetical situation to indicate its applicability as a means by which public relations professionals can approach the task of saying today what may happen tomorrow. (SRT)

As part of a long-range information systems planning effort, an assessment of the impact of technology on the organization was developed. Trends are identified and the anticipated impact on the University of Miami is discussed. (Author/MLW)

An important part of strategic or long-range planning is assessing the environment external to the institution. Many statistics are already compiled by external agencies. Some sources of information are identified, an assessment classification procedures is presented, and a sample of excerpts of the results of an assessment is provided. (MLW)

The focus of the session summarized in this paper was on how postsecondary educational institutions can better anticipate the future of higher education by using the "alternative futures approach to planning" model. The alternative futures model processes the best available information obtainable so that plausible alternative futures in…

A model for generating global scenarios for higher education is presented, and five global scenarios for the future of higher education in the United States are proposed. Multiple scenarios help to set the context in which planning occurs. They are similar to planning assumptions that many institutional research offices prepare as background…

Long-range planning techniques used by U.S. business corporations and the potential adaptation of these processes by public colleges and universities are examined. The state-of-the-art is developed by reviewing corporate strategic planning methods from the 1950s through the 1970s. Strategic planning, as defined by Drucker, is a continuous process…

This study of possible futures for vocational education (the second year of a two-year study) is designed to be of help to those who have the responsibility to set directions for vocational education. It is an attempt to isolate and analyze the factors that are likely to influence the field in the 1980s and to suggest the kinds of decisions that…

Utilizing a computerized model, this paper presents a five-year financial plan for the board of education in North York (Ontario). The model assumes that the present organizational structure and policies of the board will continue and that a zero inflation rate will prevail for the next five years. It assesses financial implications for the future…

Futurists and counselors both deal with the concept of change. This monograph examines some strategies counselors can use to help themselves adopt a future orientation and to assist their counselees in meeting the future confidently. The writings of Cornish, Fletcher and Conboy bring some focus to concepts and dimensions held by futurists and…

This study used exploratory modeling, a methodology that combines traditional quantitative forecasting techniques with the insights from scenario-planning, to analyze the conditions under which California can preserve access to its system of public higher education. The study identified two trends currently dominating the issue of future…

Because of the rising real cost of energy, geographic patterns that have dominated the contemporary metropolitan landscape are in a state of change. A conceptual model of the contemporary and future metropolitan landscape is presented to stimulate thought about the changes which may evolve in the spatial organization of urban regions as the real…

This manual presents principles and methods of assistive technology in the context of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The manual contains eight chapters. The introductory chapter identifies assistive technology values and principles. The second chapter focuses on assistive technology as a problem solving process with various levels of…