Findings of a survey conducted in 1989 to identify the difficulties facing educational practitioners when initiating shared decision making in school-based management are presented in this educational policy bulletin. The first of a two-issue report examined five of the eight major barriers to changing traditional behavior: fear of taking risks, fear of losing power, resistance to changing roles and responsibilities, lack of trust, and lack of definition and clarity. The last three obstacles--inadequate or inappropriate resources, lack of skills, and lack of hierarchical support--are discussed in this issue. A conclusion is that given the interdependent nature of the educational system, change at the school site level must be accompanied by change at all levels of the system. (LMI)