This paper reports on a study to determine what management styles are being used at Czech schools and the possible reasons for these styles. The study also looked at participatory management in Czech schools and the possible hindrances to its wider adoption and development. Five basic questions were formulated: What management style is typically used? Are school leaders and teachers satisfied with the prevailing school management style? Is there an awareness of other management styles? Is there a need for participatory management style? and Has a participatory management style been realized in Czech basic schools? If "yes," what kind of decision making is made, to what extent are the decisions made in a participatory way, and what areas of these schools are affected? If "no," what are the main obstacles to participatory situations at schools? Questionnaire surveys, semistructured individual interviews, group interviews, observation, and study of documents were used. Findings indicate that a variety of management styles are being used, with the majority of school heads satisfied with the management style they have adopted. Another conclusion was that school leaders did not have much interest in getting teachers involved in shared-decision making. (DFR)