Inclusive Decision Making

June 25, 2001

Contributed by CEO Message

Dr. Marina Piscolish, who many of you know, is currently working with each Chief Executive to develop an IDM implementation plan for their group. Each Chief faces unique challenges as they develop their plan, including their management structure and style, their group's skills, culture and readiness for IDM, the size and diversity of their staff, and their group's geographic location(s). Each plan, which should be drafted by mid-July, will address a number of issues, including the following:

Criteria for identifying IDM issues
When is IDM appropriate?

Does the decision impact KS' mission, goals or priorities?

Does the decision need broad support for success?

Will the decision impact a significant number of people?

Will the decision making process benefit substantially from knowledge or information held by others?

Does the timeframe allow for IDM? Is the decision constrained by tradition, policy or law?

Customization of IDM process to each group or division
How will it work in each Chief's Group and within each unit within the group?

What voices will be included in decision making?

Will people participate directly or through representatives?

How will communication and information flow up, down and across the organization?

Training in IDM process and skills/readiness
How can we best support the needs of staff for essential skills, including effective communication, collaborative problem solving, conflict resolution, effective meeting facilitation, change management, etc.?

Communication system and standard template for sharing inclusive decisions
How will decisions and their rationale be communicated efficiently and effectively?

The answers to these questions will emerge in the next two months but we will no doubt spend years perfecting our understanding of and skill in using this new way of working. This is an exciting time for Kamehameha Schools, and Inclusive Decision Making is becoming a critical component of our organization's governance and decision-making methodology. I am proud and happy to inaugurate this effort at Kamehameha. If you have any questions about IDM and how it will impact your work group, please contact your Chief Executive. Thank you for the interest and support you have shown for Inclusive Decision Making. I know I can count on you to help facilitate the integration of IDM into our daily operations.