Creating smaller units within larger schools is one effective first step in cultivating community in such settings. HROs typically have three features. Staff members and the public believe failure to achieve core tasks would be disastrous. Because of their high rate of reliability, HROs are greatly valued. The management structure is a flexible hierarchy with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
Administrators incorporate collegial decision-making when appropriate.
Staff members at all levels are empowered to deal effectively with emergencies across as many traditional boundaries as are necessary to avoid failure. Standard operating procedures, based on formal, logical decision analysis, are the norm, and vigilance against failure is highly prized. HROs rely on the professional judgment of all staff members. To this end, they stress intensive recruitment and ongoing training. Implementation is considered a long-term process, not a quick fix.