Because schools must operate in a changing environment, educators must manage change whether they wish to or not. Administrators must plan accordingly, and the best plans spring from a solid theoretical base. This comprehensive handbook provides that base. Sybouts draws on systems theory to develop effective approaches to strategic and operational planning in education. The text evolved from case studies of successful planning in local school districts and from a national survey of education faculty. Sybouts emphasizes that the human dimension of educational planning is paramount, and that leadership and vision are essential to the effective management of change.

The volume begins with a rationale for improved planning in educational administration. Sybouts then lucidly explains the fundamentals of systems theory and provides a theoretical frame for the rest of the book. He turns his attention to strategic and operational planning and explores the relationship between the two. He then discusses key planning techniques, including trend analysis, mathematical projections, and flow charts. The book closes with practical guidelines on how to manage change and implement planning in school systems. This handbook is a valuable reference for administrative planners and education professionals and is a ready source of both theoretical and practical information.