Direct Extraction of QCD Lambda MS-bar from e+e- Jet Observables

We directly fit the QCD dimensional transmutation parameter, Lambda MS-bar, to experimental data on e+e- jet observables, making use of next-to-leading order (NLO) perturbative calculations. In this procedure there is no need to mention, let alone to arbitrarily vary, the unphysical renormalisation scale mu, and one avoids the spurious and meaningless ``theoretical error'' associated with standard alpha_s determinations. PETRA, SLD, and LEP data are considered in the analysis. An attempt is made to estimate the importance of uncalculated next-NLO and higher order perturbative corrections, and power corrections, by studying the scatter in the values of Lambda MS-bar obtained for different observables.