Stages of Implementation Defined
As implied in previous pages, implementation is a process, not an event. Implementation will not happen all at once or proceed smoothly, at least not at first. Based on their analyses of franchised businesses, Winter & Szulanski (2001) stated that, "We treat knowledge transfer as a process (not a one-time act) by which [a purveyor] recreates a complex, causally ambiguous set of routines in new settings and keeps it functioning. The [purveyor] gradually hones its ability to manage such a process through experience and repetition" (p. 741). Thus, a purveyor (COMMUNICATION LINK) can help organizations and systems stay on track and can help recognize and solve common implementation problems in a timely and effective manner. The following appear to be discernable stages in the process of implementing evidence-based practices and programs (e.g., Blase & Fixsen, 2003; Cheung & Cheng, 1997; Faggin, 1985; Feldman, Baler, & Penner, 1997; Fox & Gershman, 2000; Rogers, 2002; Williams, 1975; Zins & Illback, 1995).
Some interesting research on stages of implementation has begun to better define the important aspects of the stages and has begun to link them together.
