Based on case studies of a Dutch adult-education organization and an Irish residential center for mentally handicapped people, this article discusses some implementation dilemmas that occur when organizations face challenging innovations. Conflicting pressures for centralization and local autonomy in implementation activities and for unified and…

Four steering (leadership) functions that appear to be critical for innovation success were identified and delineated in case studies of Dutch primary schools. The relationship between these functions and three implementation outcomes (classroom practices, schoolwide practices, use of materials) was examined. Implications for inservice principal…

This paper analyzes a research project that maps implementation efforts of comprehensive and mandated change at the primary school level in The Netherlands. In examining this large-scale national reform program, the report deals with schools whose innovation efforts acquired funding from the central education department in return for their local…