Date of Award

12-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

School of Education

First Advisor

Scot Headley, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Terry Huffman, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Gary Sehorn, Ed.D.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine state-level implementation practices and processes of current initiatives or programs through personal interviews with implementation managers at the Oregon Department of Education. This study used a qualitative research design for gathering individual perspectives on their effective and ineffective processes and practices for implementation and identified commonalities across implementation managers and departments. This study answered three research questions: (1) What are the practices and processes described by implementation managers in this study as effective for the implementation of their initiative or program?; (2) How are implementation elements conceptualized, enacted, and measured by implementation managers in this study?; and, (3) Which elements are identified by implementation managers in this study as key to contributing to overall implementation effectiveness?

The findings in this study identified 6 key themes and 20 sub-themes comprised of elements and components of implementation processes and practices. These findings were compared against three meta-frameworks found in the research on best practices in implementation: (1) Active Implementation Framework (AIF), (2) Quality Implementation Framework (QIF), and (3) Strategy Implementation Framework (SIF). I used the findings from this study to develop an Implementation Conceptual Framework and a Framework for Implementation Processes and Practices that can be used to: (1) develop an understanding of the interconnected systems of policies, processes, and practices that influence each other; (2) provide a process for breaking down complex implementation processes and practices; and (3) create a strategy for alignment and coherence across implementation of initiative and programs, while providing areas for variation and innovation.

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Education Commons

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