LESSON 7 : PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Teaching / Learning Objective:
After this lesson, the student will be able to:
1. define implementation;
2. discuss the importance of program implementation;
3. understand the components of implementation..
INTRODUCTION:
Program implementation refers to how well a proposed program or intervention is put into
practice and is fundamental to establishing the internal, external, construct, and statistical
conclusion validity of outcome evaluations.
The steps for implementing a program may seem straightforward: identify a need and provide the
service or product to a target population.
When programs are implemented poorly, it not only reduces the potential for helping, but it
wastes scarce public resources because poorly implemented programs are unlikely to be very
successful. In addition, when a program is implemented poorly, we don’t know whether or not it
works.
Implementation is important for all programs and increasing the quality of implementation
increases the chances that the program will yield its intended outcomes.
What is Implementation?
“Implementation refers to efforts designed to get evidence-based programs or practices of known
dimensions into use via effective change strategies”.
The gap between how a program is intended by its designers to be delivered and its actual
delivery in practice is referred to as “implementation variation”. Implementation may vary from
strict adherence to program protocols as designed to subtle or major changes in program
protocols. The challenge is to implement a program with sufficient quality to obtain the
outcomes found in original trials.
“When it comes to implementation, what is worth doing, is worth doing well.”
COMPONENTS OF IMPLEMENTATION
Two types of activities during the plan implementation phase
1. the preparatory and developmental activities
2. the actual delivery of health services
Reference: Readings in Health System Management 3rd edition
Community and Public Health 2022-2023 TTV
LESSON 7 : PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
It will then be necessary for the planners to prepare the necessary guidelines for the
preparatory and more detailed planning activities, and to see to it that the selected
developmental projects are planned and implemented.
Two parts of plan implementation
1. the drawing up of the plan of implementation
2. plan execution
Plan of Implementation
This translates the health plan into operational terms.
Its expected outputs are:
legal authorization to implement
approval of administrative instruments to institute changes (orders, memos,
SOP’s, etc.)
defining targets and resource requirements by geographical areas;
formulation and approval of project plans;
monitoring and control system
scheme for plan promotion
Plan execution
Execution on the plan means the actual delivery of health services as provided in the
approved plan, the setting into motion of the formulated projects, the introduction of
minor changes, and the launching of actions designed to promote the approved plan.
The processes of planning, organizing, directing, co-ordinating, controlling, financing
is put into action.
Reference: Readings in Health System Management 3rd edition
Community and Public Health 2022-2023 TTV
