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Operational Decision-Making

PREAMBLE

We believe.....

an organization is more responsive to changing conditions if it is decentralized.
better decisions are made and implemented when the decision-making process is characterized by a high degree of participation.
while either decentralization or participatory decision-making can exist in isolation, they do complement and enhance each other.
the overall quality and health of the organization and the quality of its decisions is strengthened when decentralization and participatory decision-making work together.
operational decision-making is at its best when the organization is decentralized and those affected have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.
The balance between the integrity of the larger organization and the autonomy of its units is dynamic and valued.

Decision-Making

Definition:

Participatory decision-making is a process in which persons other than the primary decision-maker play a role in shaping the decision.

Belief:

We believe those who are affected by a decision should have an opportunity to shape it.

Corollaries:

Expertise for good decisions exists at all levels in the organization.
Better decisions result when a broad spectrum of related interests is represented in the decision-making process.
Implementation is enhanced when those who implement are represented in the decision-making process.
Levels of satisfaction, feelings of personal empowerment, and professionalism are enhanced through participation.

Guidelines:

Decisions should be made as close to the implementation level as possible.
Participants in decision-making should include those with high interest, high expertise, and high responsibility.
Decisions must be consistent with stated district mission, values, parameters and goals.
Those with authority to make a decision can expect to be held accountable, and with rare exception, are participants in the process.
The particular participatory process should be understood in advance.

Examples of shared decision-making processes include:

A group representative of expertise, responsibility, and implementation reaches consensus.
The decision-maker listens with openness to those affected prior to making the decision.
A proposal is drafted by an individual or by a representative group, offered for reaction to a larger group, refined and published by the original group or person.

Low levels of participation in decision-making can be justified when: