Education Research Reading Room

ERRR #103. James Mannion on Making Change Stick (Implementation)

Jun 5, 2025
James Mannion, a passionate educator and reform advocate, discusses his new book on implementing effective change in schools. He addresses the importance of sustainability in educational practices and shares insights from implementation science, emphasizing the need for collaboration and inclusivity in decision-making. Mannion advocates for hiring diverse teams to enhance team dynamics and stresses the significance of continual evaluation. He introduces innovative strategies like the 'life wheel' model, aimed at transforming educational practices for improved learner effectiveness.
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INSIGHT

High Failure Rate of Initiatives

  • Most school improvement initiatives fail to improve outcomes; only about 10-20% show sustained impact.
  • This results in billions of wasted hours globally and demoralizes education professionals.
ADVICE

Use a Diverse Slice Team

  • Appoint a 'slice team' with diverse roles to lead change, ensuring multiple perspectives and buy-in.
  • Use the team to co-design improvement strategies, draft a communications plan, and oversee implementation.
ADVICE

Optimize Team Dynamics

  • Include diverse voices in decision-making to avoid groupthink and increase ownership.
  • Use ground rules to encourage open, honest dialogue where everyone feels equal and safe to speak.
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