The Rockwood School District uses a process for making decisions called “Guiding Change.”  This process, adapted from the work of Dennis Cheesebrow and TeamWorks International©, has three key components or phases.  Each component involves a specific group or team of individuals who have designated responsibilities and/or tasks.

Stakeholder Input
During this phase of the process there are meetings or opportunities so stakeholders can provide input for:

1. Creating the shared reality of data, trends, research, facts, influences, needs, etc. and the brainstorming of new ideas, opportunities and characteristics.
2. Assessing options and providing feedback so the options can be refined through feedback of key stakeholders.

Stakeholders  (Input Team) – represent those groups who will be affected by the choice/decision. They provide facts, perceptions and opinions; report stakeholder needs and wants; provide input to refine the options.

Creating Options
In the Creating Options phase, multiple options of strategies, solutions, programs, or products are developed with risk and benefit assessments for presentation to the choice makers.

Option Creators (Design Team) – those with specific expertise, experience or knowledge concerning the choice. They create options based on stakeholder input.  These individuals may be responsible for managing the implementation of the choice.

Decision (Choice) Making
Decision Making is the selection of a preferred option or proposal for the Implementation phase.

Decision Makers – those who are responsible for the implications of the choice. They approve the Guiding Change Document and act with authority of governance. In Rockwood, the decision makers are the Board of Education.