Abstract: The subject of this research is the process of managing complex socio-technical systems. The object of this research is the paradigm of duality of management, consisting in the presence of objective and subjective components within it. Currently, in the conditions of formation of a postindustrial society, many seemingly unchangeable management paradigms are changing, including some fundamental ones. This fully affects the paradigm of duality, which has historically formed as an accord and discord of the objective (mental) and subjective (willful) components. As demonstrated by the analysis of the situation formed in the area of management of socio-technical systems with development of programing and technical means of supporting decision-making, human participation in the process of decision-making gradually decreases.  At the same time, in managing hybrid and anthropocentric systems, the role of the willful component remains the same, and in number of instances even increases. This factor exerts influence upon the content of the process of decision-making and implementation thereof. Correspondingly, this fact should be considered in devising requirements towards automated management systems and training programs from management specialists. Based on the analysis of the current state of management process, the author synthesizes proposal on improving the organization of management in the conditions of permanent process of informatization of all spheres of human activity. The author is first to formulate applied aspects of changes in the paradigm of duality of management associated with the changes in training of management personnel and development software systems of decision-making support.

Keywords: decision support, influence of informatization, change management paradigm, volitional component of management, rational component, dual control structure, control, improving management effectiveness, organization of management, DMSS

Abstract: The subject of this research is the determination of factors that estimate the demand for Russian higher educational facilities among foreign students. The authors carefully examine these factors. An important element of information supports of management decisions aimed at increasing the demand for Russian higher education among foreign students, taken at the level of separate universities, as well as the level of national system of education, is the identification of significant factors that substantiate the choice of university by the foreign applicants. The goal of this work lies in determination of the factors that estimate the demand for Russian universities among foreign students by means of statistical analysis of monitoring indicators of the higher educational facilities. The conducted research allows concluding that the non-CIS students value such aspects as the type of university ownership (preference is given to the state educational facilities), its academic activities, as well as the level of development of international relations; the employment rate of university graduates matters insignificantly. In respect of the students from CIS countries, no reliable correlative links that allow making conclusions on the factors of choosing one or another Russian university were acquired.

Keywords: monitoring indicators, monitoring, foreign students, higher education, demand, statistical analysis, higher education management, educational establishments, students, domestic universities

Abstract: The object of this research is the peculiarities of managing development of the space industry of the United States, since this country is able to maintain leadership in space despite rapid and drastic changes of external factors. The subject of this article is the analysis of the place and role of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) within the American “ecosystem” of space management. Special attention is given to the functionality of this agency as an outline of “feedback”, as well as its impact upon the improvement of state space policy and the activity of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The author analyzed the main methods and functions of the Government Accountability Office of the United States pertaining to the assessment of the projects and activities of NASA. It is noted that the Government Accountability Office not only timely detects the potential planning errors and problems of implementation of large-scale NASA projects, but also objectivity contributes to prevention of budget risks and optimization of the national space policy.

Keywords: Innovative Economy, Performance Audit, Government Accountability Office, NASA, USA, Space Policy, Space Economy, Space Activity, Project Assessment, Project Management

Abstract: The article examines the major control mechanisms presented in the active systems theory. This involves open control mechanisms, or “ fair play” (non-manipulative mechanisms) that stimulate providing true information, coordinated mechanisms that stimulate the implementations of plans and programs, cost-conscious mechanisms that ensure lower spending and prices even for monopolies, and other mechanisms (competition-based, multichannel, reversed priorities). The active systems theory emerged in 1969. An active system is a model of a person, a group, an organization that takes into account the presence of its own interest and the capacity for presenting untrue information (data manipulation), the capacity for not executing plans, programs and obligations. The methodology of this study includes the systemic, structural and functional approaches, the methods of induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis and modeling. The main goal of the active systems theory is to design efficient mechanisms for controlling and managing organization structures. Presently, over thirty of such control mechanisms were introduced (dubbed “smart control mechanisms”). The article presents the results of efficiency analysis of practical applications of said control mechanisms in economy: distribution of water, optimal coordinated planning in organizations, “operator active advisors” in black metallurgy, cost-conscious tax systems in scientific organizations. The author offers a brief survey of the current state of active systems theory and core publications.

Keywords: active system, control mechanism, non-manipulated mechanisms, coordinated mechanisms, costconscious mechanisms, competition-based mechanisms, reverse priorities mechanisms, multichannel mechanisms, operator adviser, organization system

Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of a complex of issues regarding efficiency improvement in the sphere of planning and management of an agricultural production. With the use of the apparatus of the graph theory the authors formally define structural and technological reserve for technological operation and technological scheme as a combination of technological operations. The authors also provide the results of the analysis of the key characteristic features of the structural technological reserve, including, cost, efficiency and flexibility. The authors analyze two types of natural climatic reserve in agricultural production. They introduce the definition of two types of environmental and physiological reserve for various emergency situations in agricultural production, as well as hydro-meteorological matters and processes, such as draughts, dry hot winds, over-moistening, influence of lower temperatures, freezing out, water and wind erosion, parasites, plant diseases, etc. The authors provide detailed evaluation of the factors influencing a certain type of reserve, being formally defined as a matrix. Based upon the acquired characteristic features, the authors develop propositions for the use of various types of reserve for re-planning in emergency situations.

Keywords: management, agricultural production, planning, re-planning, structural and technological reserve, natural and climatic reserve, environmental and physiological reserve, emergency situation, graphs theory, monitoring.

Abstract: The article contains an attempt to define the key directions for a complex study of metropolises within the object field of political science. The author points out the perspectives for the political scientific analysis of metropolises and possible scientific issues in this sphere. The high ratio of population growth has became one of the most important specific features in most states in the world in the second half of XX century. It was the reason for the so-called “city revolution” and the rapid explosive growth of a number of cities and quantity of their inhabitants. This tendency was present in almost all the regions in the world.

Keywords: political science, politics, society, metropolis, Russia, international relations, transportation, values, urbanization, interests.