Acceptance or rejection of school policy hinges on the role played by formal and informal groups within the community power structure. Kimbrough's research suggests that formal groups are subordinate to the informal power structure in establishing policy, though formal groups make important contributions to decision-making. Some researchers support the view that important policy decisions are made by a few people in the informal power structure. Other scholars argue that the power is not monopolized by a small group but is diffused among many competing groups. This paper accepts both views; however, only one type of power structure can exist in a community at a given time. In the monolithic power situation, the informal power structure holds a complete monopoly of power. Where power is diffused among competing groups, the decision-making process seems to be much more complex; action will probably not occur until a policy has been widely considered by a number of subsystems within the community. The task of the school administrator is to identify the power structure in his community and to respond accordingly as the decision-making process progresses from one stage to another. (Author/JG)