Implementation studies appearing since 1973 show a disappointing lack of convergence that may be due to different, often implicit, conceptualizations of implementation. They range from "classical" linear models linking policy or statute with execution to "circular, " "adaptive, " or "evolutionary" concepts that envisage a more dynamic interaction between the making and implementation of policy. It is suggested that the wide range of possible situations calls for a contingent theory linking policy to implementation. Such a theory demands a conceptual model that is abstract enough to accommodate diversity and to recognize that failure to implement policies or programs is not an aberration. A model is presented that meets these specifications: the Policy-Program-Implementation Process (PPIP) model, which can serve as a conceptual framework for developing contingent theories of policy implementation in the future.
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