Although site-based management is very popular, it is not always well understood or implemented. Seeking a middle ground between leadership theory and practice, this practical guidebook provides a systemwide approach to site-based management as a school improvement strategy; integrates a student-oriented, strategic-planning process; identifies 9 essential perspectives and skills required to support SBM; recommends a 25-step implementation process; defines new roles and responsibilities of central-office personnel, principals, and onsite teams; and provides work sheets and guidelines applicable to different settings. The book also identifies eight SBM implementation problems, including lack of central-office leadership, lack of overriding vision, lack of interbuilding coordination; unclear central office-building relationship, lack of building level's "big picture" awareness, inefficient and ineffective team meetings, control-bound principals, and SBM viewed as another "add-on." Nine essential components for supporting SBM include adopting a systemwide perspective, understanding the context of change, developing leadership perspectives and sills, creating a shared vision, developing strategic planning skills, defining new roles, enhancing the work environment, understanding group dynamics, and clarifying accountability. (MLH)