A client centered system serves individuals in its ‘thruput’ one-by-one for the purpose of enabling each individual to achieve a targeted outcome state. Schooling, health delivery, corrections, and elder care are examples of client-centered systems.

Wulff’s graduate training focused on learning theory. Early in his work career he was challenged to address the design of a process for development of complex systems. This was in a time when we were forced to recognize that the process for developing complex man-machine systems (aircraft, space systems) was often as demanding as design of the hardware itself. In that period the concept of ‘system’ as it is employed today was in the process of evolving. His early response was fascination with the potential utility of ‘system thinking’.

In the mid-70′s Wulff co-founded The Human Ecology Institute. This was a non-profit institute for applied research in the design, development, and management of human services and health care organizations. THE Institute obtained funding for design and applied demonstrations of cost-effective organizational structures in mental health, social services, elder care, and child services. At THE Institute he evolved system models that can cost-effectively deliver individualized services to clients, and to patients.

In the 80′s, Wulff co-founded Learning Services, a for-profit company which became a leading provider of rehabilitation for persons with acquired brain injury. This company rapidly developed ten campuses serving clients nationwide. Wulff developed and installed both the business structure and the client-centered clinical program structure employed at Learning Services. The clinical program was structured on ‘primary case management’. This successful effort provided opportunity to test and demonstrate several of the concepts which lie at the heart of the health delivery system design presented in this book.

In prior years Dr. Wulff was a member of the faculty of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and of the Florence Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare at Brandeis University.

Jepson Wulff’s formal training was in human learning at Yale University where he received both his BA, and his PhD.

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