Everyone Has a Voice; Not Everyone Has a Say
It's important that everyone be heard; it's also important that direct influence over programs, policies, and decisions be based on organizational role and expertise.
One of the very wise things my library did long before I arrived as university librarian a few years ago was to create a guidelines document for administrative decision-making that includes definitions of various levels of "stakeholder" in a program, policy, or activity:
Steward – Someone whose job description includes oversight for the focus of the program or activity
Directly affected – Someone who is not a Steward, but whose essential job functions are significantly affected by the program or activity
Advisor – Someone who can provide particularly valuable input regarding the program or activity because of their job description or special expertise
Interested Party – Anyone else who has a personal or professional interest in the program or activity and wishes to make suggestions and/or stay informed
These categories reflect two important principles of decision-making in the library organization: