The feasibility of implementing a model for a wide area network management information system for Texas Education Agency-administered programs of adult education

Education and training programs are under increased pressure to provide information on program success. In Texas, publicly funded programs are being asked to provide information that document participants' outcomes. Outcomes may include evidence such as the percentage of former program participants who are gainfully employed or are continuing with additional education or training.;Despite this directive, the mobile nature of our workforce often make it cost-prohibitive and time-consuming to locate individuals after they exit a program. In the State of Texas, several training and education programs, in conjunction with the State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (SOICC), have computer-automated research programs that provide information at a lower cost on the whereabouts of former participants in programs of adult education. However, the Texas Education Agency's Division of Adult and Community Education does not have a systematic data collection process, a prerequisite to participating in this automated process for locating former students. Those people in Texas who provide educational services to adults need such a process for collecting non-aggregated student data.;In designing a management information system, end-user participation in the development process has been hypothesized to be important for successful implementation. In this exploratory study, an implementation model was developed and used to involve end-users in the process of defining Management Information System (MIS) specification (system inputs and outputs).;This exploratory model was framed within Stufflebeam's Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) program development and evaluation model providing both formative and summative information to end-users for making decisions throughout the implementation process. This study was conducted using three data-collection instruments including an electronic Delphi for soliciting end-user consensus, a database user's log for monitoring system processes, and a self-reporting questionnaire for evaluating computer attitude and system task-fit. The questionnaire included four computer-attitude subscales and nine aspects relating to task-fit. Based on the results, recommendations were made for using this type of user-supported implementation model and for providing directions for future research and MIS development.