A Normative Theory of Participative Decision Making in Schools Available to Purchase

Involving subordinates in decisions may improve the quality and acceptance of decisions when participation fits the constraints of the situation. A theory of participative decision making (PDM) is developed that suggests under what conditions subordinates should be involved in decision making. The model describes not only when teachers should be involved but also the appropriate role for the administrator, which depends on the decisional situation. The analysis concludes with three specific school applications.