How to Make Wise Resource-Allocation Decisions 

In a sidebar in this District Management Journal article, Nathan Levenson and Bridget McNamara list ten mistakes superintendents should avoid when they make difficult resource-allocation decisions:

• Don’t make tough decisions alone. “When only a small group of leaders make decisions, those who were not involved often fail to support the decision,” say Levenson and McNamara.

• Don’t ignore unstated values. Beyond the core values of Children First are other competing values, for example, loyalty to staff and appreciation of seniority.

• Don’t forget that making the wise choice isn’t sufficient. “How decisions are made matters as much as the decision itself,” say the authors. “Be sure to involve deep influencers in the decision-making process.”

• Don’t assume others know the facts. People may not know about a program’s disappointing results or the high costs per student served. If they’re part of the fact-finding process, they’re more likely to support the decision.

• Don’t frame choices as “good” or “bad.” This personalizes decisions and increases the chances of strong pushback. Better to talk in terms of alignment (or non-alignment) with the district’s strategic vision.

• Don’t forget to involve principals. They are the key communication link to teachers and parents.

• Don’t advocate for half measures. “Be careful not to undermine the integrity of the proposal,” advise Levenson and McNamara. “Half measures will cause support to dissipate.”

• But don’t be stubborn. There’s a time to incorporate feedback and bend to ensure support and success, say the authors.

• Don’t assume central-office support. Even those closest to the superintendent may have conflicting loyalties and need to be part of the process and understand decisions.

• Don’t despair. If district leaders attend to the “adaptive” as well as the technical challenges, budgets can be managed well. 

“10 Mistakes to Avoid: Making Difficult Resource Allocation Decisions” by Nathan Levenson and Bridget McNamara in The District Management Journal, Fall 2012 (Vol. 12, p. 22-23), 

www.dmcouncil.org 

From the Marshall Memo #463