Successful school district management, this book says, depends on including needs assessment in the planning process. Part 1 discusses the advantages of using needs assessment in management. Relevant terms are discussed in part 2, while part 3 examines specific steps towards utilizing a needs assessment process. Part 4 discusses the six steps to long-range planning, the "system approach." Finally, five hypothetical case studies are offered to help educational managers implement needs assessment in their own districts. (Author/LD)