Our Approach
Change That Works in Context
Effective practices matter, but they are only one part of meaningful change. People also need relevant skills, clear expectations, supportive environments, aligned leadership, useful feedback, usable data, and organizational structures that make effective performance possible over time.
Implementation Science Foundation
CBSI begins with a foundational idea from implementation science: identifying an effective practice is not the same as putting it into consistent use. Meaningful implementation requires a clearly defined and usable approach, people with responsibility for guiding the work, training and coaching, supportive organizational routines, engaged leadership, useful data, and regular opportunities to learn and adjust.
CBSI draws from the Active Implementation Frameworks and related implementation-science approaches to help partners connect practice, people, organizations, and systems. We use these frameworks as guides rather than rigid formulas, adapting the work to local goals, strengths, readiness, culture, resources, and context.
Learn more: National Implementation Research Network →Implementation Phases
Implementation develops over time — not a one-way checklist. Teams may revisit an earlier phase when leadership, staffing, priorities, evidence, or local conditions change.
| Phase | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Exploration | Clarify the need, learn from the people closest to the work, examine possible approaches, and assess fit and readiness. |
| Installation | Put the people, roles, resources, training, data systems, leadership supports, and practical infrastructure in place. |
| Initial Implementation | Begin using the approach, expect challenges, provide coaching and feedback, and solve problems while routines are still developing. |
| Full Implementation | Support consistent, high-quality use as part of everyday work while continuing to monitor outcomes, learn, and improve. |
Our Process
Six connected actions run across every phase. Listening and co-design are most visible during exploration; capacity building intensifies during installation; coaching and improvement cycles matter most as implementation begins.
1. Listen & Understand
Clarify strengths, needs, priorities, context, existing resources, readiness, and the experience of people closest to the work.
2. Co-Design
Define meaningful outcomes and develop usable practices, tools, and supports with the people who will use and experience them.
3. Build Capacity
Prepare people and teams through instruction, demonstration, practice, feedback, coaching, mentoring, and clear implementation roles.
4. Support Implementation
Strengthen routines, data systems, communication, leadership, administrative supports, and feedback loops that make consistent use possible.
5. Learn & Improve
Use data and experience to identify barriers, test adjustments, strengthen quality, and document what helps the work succeed in context.
6. Sustain & Extend
Build local ownership, maintain effective supports, respond to changing conditions, and assess readiness before expansion or replication.