It has been recognized that productivity improvement is an important issue of the 80' s. It is regarded as the most efficient way to improve national economy and to enrich the quality of life.  Meer

Volume 9 of this series on information systems science presents four timely topics of current interest in this growing field. In each chapter an attempt is made to familiarize the reader with some basic background information on the advances discussed, so that this volume may be used independently or in conjunction with the previous volumes.  Meer

Information systems science is rapidly advancing in many directions. Di­ versified ideas, methodologies, and techniques as well as applications have been conceived and developed.  Meer

It has been recognized that productivity improvement is an important issue of the 80' s. It is regarded as the most efficient way to improve national economy and to enrich the quality of life.  Meer

Information systems science is advancing in various directions with rapid strides. Many diversified ideas and methodologies have been revised and extended.  Meer

Volume 9 of this series on information systems science presents four timely topics of current interest in this growing field. In each chapter an attempt is made to familiarize the reader with some basic background information on the advances discussed, so that this volume may be used independently or in conjunction with the previous volumes.  Meer

Information systems science embraces a broad spectrum of topics. It is vir­ tually impossible to provide comprehensive and in-depth discussion, other than simple recitals of recent results, of every important topic in each volume of this annual review series.  Meer

This volume, the fifth of a continuing series on information systems science, covers four timely topics which are in the mainstream of this field. In each chapter, an attempt is made to familiarize the reader with basic background information on the advances discussed, so that this volume may be used independently or in conjunction with the previous volumes.  Meer

Information systems science is advancing in many directions with rapid strides. Many diversified ideas, methodologies, and techniques have been conceived and developed for improving the design of information systems and for inventing new methods for solving complex information problems.  Meer

This volume, the eighth of a continuing series on information systems science, presents five timely topics which are of current interest in this growing field.  Meer

Engineering has long been thought of by the public as a profession tra­ ditionally categorized into such branches as electrical, mechanical, chemical, industrial, civil, etc.  Meer

Ten years ago the first International Symposium on Computer and Information Sciences (COINS-63) was held at Northwestern University. Since that time, computer and information sciences have witnessed a great intensification of research and education.  Meer