Seawings,
I like the picture you paint, I havn't heard that one before, you approach of empowering is one a really believe in but havn't heard someone else advocate it before... have you looked at change management principles? wiki adcar or change management, if you havn't allready looked at it it may help... just a thought.
Another though about the stool analogy, when using it do you think it adequately explains the feedback, reassessment issue of an SMS?
I only ask as I've found that when trying to explain SMS, auditing, safety etc to those who are not really very enthusiastic about the subject that being able to draw the logical flow of the process help... how have you got on?
Cheers
Miles