The design, organization, and content of the GIC was informed by lessons learned from the literature, best practices derived from successful implementation, and evaluations of implementations conducted in various jurisdictions and countries.

Lesson 1: Focus on the process of implementation

Successful implementation will not be achieved by doing more or better research on interventions. Research on interventions helps us choose what to use; it does not help implement those interventions in typical service settings. An intervention supported by 40 rigorously conducted randomized clinical trials is no more ready to implement than an intervention supported by one rigorously conducted trial.

• Thus, the GIC focused on the practice and science of implementation, rather than on specific evidence-based practices or other interventions.

Lesson 2: Focus on universal applications

Effective implementation methods are not field-specific. What is learned about implementation practice, policy, and science in one domain can inform implementation in other domains.

• With this premise in mind, the GIC focused on the universal aspects of implementation, organization change, and system transformation that have the potential to benefit all human services.

Lesson 3: Improved practices will improve research

Implementation science will not improve until implementation practice improves. Thousands of studies list facilitators and barriers of implementation, with a focus on documenting what does not work. We think that's because researchers can only study what is being done, which often reflects poor implementation practices.

• Therefore, the GIC spotlighted issues related to the improvement of implementation practices in order to promote better implementation science and policy.

Lesson 4: Apply intervention practices globally

Effective implementation practices are needed to initiate, improve, and sustain programs over time and across practitioners, administrators, and policy makers to ensure ongoing benefits to consumers. Implementation practices need to become part of the new way of work in service systems along with evidence-based intervention practices.

• Thus, the GIC emphasized the interplay among implementation, organization change, and system transformation.