THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE A MICROCOMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM TO EVALUATE THE MANAGEMENT OF NETWORKS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN DISSEM-INATION OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHSERVICES.

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP AND DISTRIBUTE A MICROCOMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM TO EVALUATE THE MANAGEMENT OF NETWORKS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN DISSEM-INATION OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHSERVICES. THE EVALUATION SYSTEM SEEKS TO EXPLOIT THE MUSHROOMING OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY CHEAPER, MORE POWERFUL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO BRING THE STATE OF THE ART THEORETICAL/MATHEMATICAL TOOLS OF SOCIOMETRIC NETWORK ANALYSIS WITHIN REACH OF PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO MANAGE SERVICE NETWORKS. IN CURRENT RESEARCH/EVALUATION WORKS, PERRY COHEN ASSOCIATES HAS IMPLEMENTED A DEVELOPMEN- TAL SYSTEM USING A POPULAR COMPUTER. THE SPECIFIC AIM OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO DEVELOP A COMPLETE PROTOTYPE SYSTEM READY FOR TESTING AND USE BY MANAGERS IN A WIDE RANGEOF SETTINGS TO BETTER MONITOR AND IMPROVE THEIR SERVICE NETWORKS. THE PROJECT HAS THREE STEPS: (1) DEVELOPMENT OF A MANUAL OF PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE ANALYSIS SYSTEM, INCLUDING GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATION, APPROACHES TO SELECT TARGET QUESTIONS AND AUDIENCES, PROCEDURES FOR DATA COLLECTION, DATA MANAGEMENT, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OFRESULTS; (2) DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FROM THEORY AND RE- SEARCH TO INTERPRET INFORMATION FROM PROGRAMS; AND (3) DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE THAT IS EASY TO USE, FLEXIBLE, AND PROVIDES GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF RESULTS. THE IDEA OF NETWORKING IS CENTRAL TO SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM STRATEGIES FOR DIFFUSING AND IMPLEMENTING PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AS WELL ASA VARIETY OF OTHER SERVICE PROGRAMS. A TOOL TO BETTER ASSESS AND MANAGE SUCH PROGRAMS WOULD APPEAL TO A WIDE RANGEOF ANALYSTS AND ADMINISTRATORS AT NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCALLEVELS.