This research is a retrospective case study designed to document and analyze the process of decision-making by educational leaders and stakeholders at a four-year university. For this study, educational leaders and key stakeholders agreed to extensive interviews about the decisions made during the design, construction, and post-occupancy phases of two new major facilities. Design and construction of university buildings represent a significant opportunity to study educational leadership in a complex organization, particularly as it pertains to processes of decision-making. Moreover, from a practical standpoint, such research might be particularly useful for addressing rapidly emerging trends in development and deployment of instructional technologies related to instruction, green building, universal design, and health and safety (Earthman, 2009, Tepfer, 2001, Trefor, 2010). However, only limited research exists regarding such processes.

Although these types of decisions may involve technical information, for educational leaders they also involve considerations of such drivers as cost, function, and aesthetics. This study used a retrospective case study as part of an exploratory qualitative research strategy for examining both theoretical and practical aspects of the processes of decision-making that occur in complex educational organizations. Therefore, this study examined a particular occasion for overt and detailed decision processes with respect to multiple stakeholder decision-making concepts and models. Also, a portion of this study aimed to document some practical features of the actual decision-making processes in this particular case. Results of analyses indicate important effects on decision-processes related to specific topics: phase differences between design and construction, organizational factors, and emerging trends in educational facilities.

Moreover, interactions among these various factors also emerged that are described and interpreted with regard to both their possible theoretical and practical significance.

Keywords: (1) Educational leaders, (2) decision making, (3) higher education organizations, (4) educational facilities.