A taxonomy of the process in implementation science: the Global Impact Analytics Framework (GIAF)

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Research Impact Assessment
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Lack of standardized, practical tools for real-world research implementation assessment.
• Growing global need for robust evaluation methods in impact studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• Introduce a comprehensive implementation taxonomy based on onto-terminology principles for impact evaluations.
• Provide a structured framework to enhance the assessment of research implementation.

Main Methods:

• Developed by an international expert panel (32 members) using nominal group techniques and iterative refinement.
• Informed by Technology Readiness Levels for Implementation Sciences (TRL-IS) for lifecycle relevance.
• Incorporated practical insights from case studies in ten countries.

Main Results:

• The Global Impact Analytics Framework (GIAF) taxonomy includes 82 subdomains across 15 domains and three phases: Initiation, Maturity, and Evolution.
• The taxonomy covers preparatory steps, early implementation, and post-implementation activities like sustainability and de-implementation.
• Supported by a glossary and practical checklists for consistent application.

Conclusions:

• The GIAF taxonomy offers a flexible toolkit for mixed-methods evaluation of implementation processes across diverse settings.
• Enhances rigor, replicability, and comparability in implementation research and practice.
• Addresses a critical gap, supporting evidence-based practices and improving future implementation efforts.