A pilot study sought to determine if the "Planning Guide" provided useful assistance to college personnel needing to collect data about their own institutions. The Guide is a looseleaf manual developed by the National Laboratory for Higher Education and designed to organize information regarding an institution's: 1) current status; 2) assumptions, goals, and objectives; 3) organization, policies, and strategies for implementing change; 4) budgeting techniques; and 5) evaluation tactics. The Guide was distributed to five institutions and used over an eight-month period. The progress in planning made by each varied substantially, depending upon the experience, planning staff, and resources available. In general, it was concluded that the Guide was an effective means for collecting and disseminating data needed for decision-making, particularly when regarded as a dynamic tool which could be shaped to fit local needs. Minimal outside consulting time was required and it seemed that the Guide was more appropriate to smaller colleges than to large universities. (PB)