Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Synthesizing the Implementation Literature

The Ambiguity-Conflict Model of Policy Implementation

Bibliographic Data

ID6295455
AuthorsRichard E Matland (University of Houston, corresponding author)
Year1995
Publication date1995-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Public Administration Research and Theory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1053-1858 • E-ISSN: 1477-9803
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/oxfordjournals.jpart.a037242
OpenAlexW2268460453
LanguageEN
Citations received513
References cited23

A review of the policy implementation literature finds the field split into two major schools, top-down and bottom-up. Previous attempts to reconcile these models are described, followed by an alternative model. This model reconciles these approaches by concentrating on the theoretical significance of ambiguity and conflict for policy implementation. A number of factors crucial to the implementation process are identified as varyingly dependent on a policy's ambiguity and conflict level. Four policy implementation paradigms are identified and the relevance of the existing literature to these conditions is discussed. The four paradigms are low conflict-low ambiguity (administrative implementation), high conflict-low ambiguity (political implementation), high conflict-high ambiguity (symbolic implementation), and low conflict-high ambiguity (experimental implementation

Ambiguity · Economics · Field (mathematics · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Process (computing · Relevance (law · Role conflict · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · E-Government and Public Services · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Law · Mathematics · Public Policy and Administration Research

  • The Power of Compassion-Seeking

    Open Access•Fan Yang, Guigui Chai•Journal of Public Administration…•2026

  • The politics of agricultural policy and nutrition

    Open Access•Helen Walls, Deborah Johnston et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2023

  • How the congruence between public servants’ schemas and legal legitimacy affects top-down public policy implementation

    Open Access•Jeferson Tadeu de Souza, Luciano Rossoni•Frontiers in Sociology•2025

  • Desempenho da Implementação do Programa Luz para Todos

    Open Access•André Dias Oliveira•Cadernos Gestão Pública e Cidadania•2013

  • Land acquisition induced conflicts in suburban China

    Open Access•Mark Wang, Yanan Song et al.•Geographical Research•2019

  • The Adaptation Policy Paradox

    Open Access•Jacques Dupuis, Johann Dupuis et al.•Conservation Ecology•2013

  • The Missing Link Revisited

    Open Access•Peter Deleon•Review of Policy Research•1999

  • Performance Ranking and Environmental Governance

    Open Access•Xiao Tang, Zhengwen Liu et al.•Review of Policy Research•2018

  • Uneven local implementation of federal policy after disaster

    Open Access•Stephanie Zarb, Kristin Taylor•Review of Policy Research•2023

  • Policy conflicts in shale development in China and the United States

    Open Access•Kathleen S Bailey, Hongtao Yi et al.•Review of Policy Research•2023

  • Políticas públicas e linguagem

    Open Access•Bruno Moretti, Elton Bernardo Bandeira De Melo•Sociedade e Cultura•2017

  • Sustainability of ARV provision in developing countries

    Open Access•Thiago Botelho Azeredo, Míriam Aparecida Mesquita Oliveira et al.•Ciência & Saúde Coletiva•2017

  • Auditing Web accessibility

    Open Access•G Anthony Giannoumis•First Monday•2015

  • Biodiversity policy and subnational implementation in the remote regions of France

    Open Access•Gianluca Ferraro, Gregoire Touron-Gardic•Environment Development and…•2023

  • Groundwater governance and implementing the conservation policy

    Open Access•S Jalal Mirnezami, Cheryl de Boer et al.•Environment Development and…•2020

  • Inside-out and outside-in

    Open Access•Eivind Skille, Eivind Åsrum Skille et al.•International Review for the…•2018

  • Reactive limits to diaspora enfranchisement policies

    Anca Turcu•Diaspora Studies•2018

  • Policy instruments and the remediation and redevelopment of contaminated properties

    Rob Alexander•Environmental Politics•2015

  • The politics of just transition

    Open Access•Karl Lo•Political Geography•2024

  • Traducciones de los equipos locales en la implementación de programas sociales en Chile

    Open Access•C Leyton•RUMBOS TS Un Espacio Crítico para…•2023

  • Territorial Policies and Transformative Politics? Agri-Environmentalism in Central Spain

    Open Access•Julian Clark, Julian R A Clark et al.•Environment and Planning A…•2001

  • Quantitative Storytelling

    Open Access•L J Di Felice, Violeta Cabello et al.•Science Technology & Human Values•2023

  • Six steps in quality intervention development (6SQuID)

    Open Access•Daniel Wight, Erica Wimbush et al.•Journal of Epidemiology and…•2016

  • Análise Da Implementação Da Política De Compras Públicas Sustentáveis

    Open Access•Vitor Neves Cabral, Biancca Scarpeline De Castro•Revista de Políticas Públicas•2020

  • Apresentação - Estudos sobre implementação de políticas públicas e suas relações com a (re) produção de desigualdades educacionais

    Open Access•Naira Da Costa Muylaert Lima, Naira Muylaert•Educar em Revista•2021

  • Percepções dos profissionais de linha de frente da saúde sobre HIV e juventudes

    Open Access•Secretaria Estadual De Saúde De São Paulo, Maria Iraci Sousa Costa et al.•Saúde em Debate•2023

  • O modelo de ambiguidade-conflito como ferramenta de análise dos desafios da Assistência Farmacêutica em João Pessoa (PB)

    Open Access•Suelma De Fátima Brun, Suelma de Fátima Bruns et al.•Saúde em Debate•2015

  • Frontline health professionals' perceptions about HIV and youth

    Open Access•Secretaria Estadual De Saúde De São Paulo, Maria Iraci Sousa Costa et al.•Saúde em Debate•2023

  • The Political Regulation Wave

    Open Access•Shiran Victoria Shen•Political Regulation Wave•2022

  • New Directions in Africa–China Studies

    Chris Alden, Daniel Large•New Directions in Africa-China…•2018

  • Controlled Freedom

    Open Access•Peter Hupe, Tony Evans•Discretion and the Quest for…•2020

  • Policy Implementation in an Age of Governance

    Open Access•Harald Saetren, Peter Hupe et al.•The Palgrave Handbook of Public…•2018

  • Thinking About Failing

    Open Access•Leila Jancovich, Deborah Stevenson et al.•Failures in Cultural Participation•2023

  • Geflüchtete in ländlichen Regionen Deutschlands

    Open Access•Peter Mehl, Johanna Fick et al.•Geflüchtete in ländlichen…•2023

  • The Politics of Evidence (Open Access)

    Open Access•Justin Parkhurst•The Politics of Evidence (Open…•2016

  • Policy failure and the policy-implementation gap

    Open Access•Bob Hudson, David J Hunter et al.•Policy Design and Practice•2019

  • Local Energy Efficiency Policy Implementation in China

    Open Access•Genia Kostka, William Hobbs•The China Quarterly•2012

  • Perverse Incentive Structure and Policy Implementation Gap in China's Local Environmental Politics

    Ran Ran•Journal of Environmental Policy &…•2013

  • Authoritarian Environmentalism Undermined? Local Leaders’ Time Horizons and Environmental Policy Implementation in China

    Open Access•Eaton, Sarah Eaton et al.•The China Quarterly•2014

  • The challenges of realising inclusive education in South Africa

    Open Access•Dana K Donohue, Dana Donohue et al.•South African Journal of Education•2014

  • Questions of governance

    Open Access•George Marsden, Greg Marsden et al.•Transportation Research Part A…•2017

  • Performance Management, High-Powered Incentives, and Environmental Policies in China

    Jiaqi Liang, Laura Langbein•International Public Management…•2015

  • Ambiguity and Cultural Policy

    Open Access•Clive Gray•Nordisk kulturpolitisk tidskrift•2015

  • Policy Accumulation and the Democratic Responsiveness Trap

    Open Access•Christian Adam, Steffen Hurka et al.•Policy Accumulation and the…•2019

  • An Alternative Approach for Studying Public Policy

    Flemming Larsen, Thomas Bredgaard et al.

  • Europe, the Green Line and the Issue of the Israeli-Palestinian Border

    Federica Bicchi, Benedetta Voltolini•Geopolitics•2018

  • The bit in the middle

    Open Access•David Berlan, Katherine Buse et al.•Health Policy and Planning•2014

  • Exploring Ambiguity in Social Prescribing

    Open Access•Le-Tien Bhaskar, Gillian Mulvale et al.•Health & Social Care in the…•2025

  • Factors Explaining Program Sustainability

    Open Access•Emanuel Åhlfeldt, David Isaksson et al.•Health & Social Care in the…•2023

  • Opening the ‘implementation black-box’ of the user fee exemption policy for caesarean section in Benin

    Open Access•Jean-Paul Dossou, Vincent De Brouwere et al.•Health Policy and Planning•2020

  • How Wars Impact Public Administration and Street-Level Bureaucracy

    Open Access•Vicente Ferraro, Gabriela Lotta et al.•Journal of Public Administration…•2025

  • Navigating challenges at the frontline

    Open Access•Vernise Estorcien, Sanghee Park•Public Management Review•2026

  • Discriminación de las personas inmigrantes y el policy making de las normas e instituciones para la igualdad de trato. Introducción al monográfico

    Open Access•Lorenzo Cachón-Rodríguez•Deusto Journal of Human Rights•2023

  • Supply Chain Strategies in Mediating the Effect of Knowledge Management on Business Performance

    Open Access•Noer Soetjipto, Dwi Ermayanti Susilo et al.•Humanities & Social Sciences…•2020

  • A survey of nutritional education within the Holiday Activities and Food programme across England

    Open Access•Emily K Round, Paul B Stretesky et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2024

  • Risk communication policies and strategies in Nepal and Switzerland

    Open Access•Chandani Bhandari, Anna Scolobig et al.•International Journal of Disaster…•2025

  • Motivations underlining the “blame avoidance dilemma”

    Open Access•Zhe Zhu, Yingying Liu et al.•International Journal of Disaster…•2023

  • Impacts of Redd+ in Mexico

    Open Access•Jovanka Špirić, Ana Merlo-Reyes et al.•Sociedad y Ambiente•2021

  • Aspectos iniciais da implementação do Novo Ensino Médio no estado de Mato Grosso

    Open Access•Alicia Bonamino, Nathacha Monteiro Ferreira et al.•Revista Ibero-Americana de…•2022

  • Implementação do ensino remoto

    Open Access•Mariane Koslinski, Regina Sanches Xavier et al.•Revista Ibero-Americana de…•2022

  • Implementação de políticas como espaço de (re)produção de desigualdades

    Open Access•Marina Meira, Maria De Fátima Magalhães De Lima et al.•Revista Ibero-Americana de…•2022

  • Principal discipline decision-making

    Open Access•Amy Mclaughlin, Jeff Wall et al.•Educational Management…•2026

  • Ambiguity, appraisal, and affect

    Randall S Davis, Edmund C Stazyk•Public Management Review•2022

  • Are we there yet? Understanding the implementation of re-municipalization decisions and their duration

    Daniel Albalate, Germà Bel et al.•Public Management Review•2022

  • Public service motivation and policy implementation attitudes

    Chao An, Jinhai Yu et al.•Public Management Review•2026

  • Understanding goal formation in strategic public management

    John M Bryson, Bert George et al.•Public Management Review•2024

  • E-procurement system adoption in local governments

    Yifan Chen, Stuart Bretschneider et al.•Public Management Review•2022

  • Who decides and why it matters

    Laurie-Anne Rancourt•Journal of Vocational Education…•2020

  • Implementación de políticas públicas. Perspectiva de los Street Level Bureaucrats . Una (re)visión

    Open Access•Inés Mercedes Rouquaud, Inés Rouquaud et al.•Reforma y democracia•2022

  • La politisation des cantines scolaires en France

    Open Access•Hélène Caune, Florent Frasque et al.•Lien social et Politiques•2023

  • Will college promise programs improve or reduce equity? Understanding the contextual conditions that influence program implementation

    Open Access•Laura W Perna, Jeremy Wright‐Kim et al.•Education Policy Analysis Archives•2021

  • Policy implementation as a tool for advancing equity in community college

    Open Access•Ángel de Jesús González, Luz Burgos-López et al.•Education Policy Analysis Archives•2021

  • Distance education and national teacher training policies

    Open Access•Bryan Rocha De Oliveira, Breynner Ricardo Oliveira Breynner Ricardo Oliveira…•Education Policy Analysis Archives•2021

  • Implementing a mandate to plan for sea level rise

    Thomas James Holmes, W H Butler•Journal of Environmental Planning…•2021

  • Understanding contextual heterogeneity in the outcomes of large-scale security policies

    Open Access•Marco Calaresu, Moris Triventi•Crime Law and Social Change•2022

  • Superintendents’ Beliefs About and Engagement in State Education Policy Making

    Open Access•Rachel S White•Educational Policy•2026

  • What could improve or hinder the implementation of spatial planning towards environmental justice

    Bongane C Ntiwane, Johnny P V V Coetzee•Development Southern Africa•2021

  • An ocean of ambiguity in Northern European marine spatial planning policy designs

    Open Access•Trine Skovgaard Kirkfeldt, Jan P M Van Tatenhove et al.•Marine Policy•2020

  • Police Discretion and Restorative Justice in China

    Open Access•Yan Zhang•International Journal of Offender…•2021

  • Discretion on the frontlines of the implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme

    Open Access•Abdul‐rahim Mohammed•Public Administration and…•2022

  • Social conflict on the front lines of reform

    Open Access•Akshay Mangla•Public Administration and…•2022

  • Exercising bureaucratic discretion through selective bridging

    Open Access•Shibaab Rahman, Prue Burns et al.•Public Administration and…•2024

  • Polycentric Governance and Inclusive Policies

    Mohamed Alaa Abdel-Moneim, David H Rosenbloom•International Journal of Public…•2024

  • The beginnings of health system transformation

    Open Access•Gayathri Embuldeniya, Jennifer Gutberg et al.•Health Policy•2021

  • Making integrated care happen

    Open Access•Soila Karreinen, Satu Paatela et al.•Health Policy•2025

  • The Opt-Out Movement and the Reform Agenda in U.S. Schools

    Open Access•Oren Pizmony-Levy, Bob Lingard et al.•Teachers College Record The Voice…•2021

  • Using Integrative Implementation Theory to Understand New Jersey's 2015 Opt-Out Movement

    Open Access•Jonathan Supovitz, Jonathan A Supovitz•Teachers College Record The Voice…•2021

  • Challenges in implementing climate change policy within local climate action, transportation and land use planning in Japan

    Hiroyuki Iseki•Town Planning Review•2024

  • Risks of policy failure in direct R&D support

    Open Access•Mercedes Bleda, Seweryn Krupnik•Technological Forecasting and…•2024

  • Street-level bureaucracy in the pandemic

    Open Access•Fernanda Lima-Silva, Tatiana Lemos Sandim et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2020

  • Behavior and performance of street-level bureaucrats

    Open Access•Marcelo Rodrigues Da Silva, Daniel Pires Vieira et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2024

  • Partisan alignment and public policies provision in Brazil

    Open Access•Evertton Lira•Revista de Administração Pública•2023

  • Efeito de mudanças no contexto de implementação de uma política multinível

    Open Access•Gabriela Lotta, Marcela Bauer et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2021

  • Mid-level bureaucrats perception on the implementation of public policies

    Open Access•Valeria de Oliveira Lemos Novato, Estela Najberg et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2020

  • Alinhamento partidário e oferta de políticas públicas no Brasil

    Open Access•Evertton Lira•Revista de Administração Pública•2023

  • O nível de rua na pandemia

    Open Access•Fernanda Lima-Silva, Tatiana Lemos Sandim et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2020

  • Comportamento e desempenho de burocratas de nível de rua

    Open Access•Marcelo Rodrigues Da Silva, Daniel Pires Vieira et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2024

  • O burocrata de médio escalão na implementação de políticas públicas

    Open Access•Valeria de Oliveira Lemos Novato, Estela Najberg et al.•Revista de Administração Pública•2020

  • The Relationship between Written District Policies and School Practices among High‐Need Districts in New York State

    Open Access•Rebecca Boehm, Marlene B Schwartz et al.•Journal of School Health•2020

  • Gap Analysis of Clinical Establishment Act Implementation in India and Assam

    Open Access•Harikumar Pallathadka, Parag Deb Roy et al.•Integrated Journal for Research…•2025

  • The Future of Data Analysis

    Open Access•John W Tukey•The Annals of Mathematical…•1962

  • Implementation Structures

    Open Access•Benny Hjern, David O Porter•Organization Studies•1981

  • Street-Level Bureaucrats and Institutional Innovation

    Richard A Weatherley, Richard Weatherley et al.•Harvard Educational Review•1977

  • Essence of Decision

    Graham T Allison•Essence of Decision•1972

  • The Imprint of Congress

    David R Mayhew•The imprint of Congress•2017

  • Incorporating Multiple Actors and Guidance Instruments into Models of Regulatory Policymaking

    Open Access•Paul A Sabatier, Paul Sabatier et al.•Administration & Society•1987

  • The Policy Implementation Process

    Open Access•Donald S Van Meter, Carl E Van Horn•Administration & Society•1975

  • An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences

    David D Mcfarland, Charles A Lave et al.•Contemporary Sociology A Journal…•1977

  • EPA, TVA and Pollution Control

    Robert F Durant•Public Administration Review•1984

  • Regulatory Issue Networks in a Federal System

    William T Gormley, William T Gormley William T Gormley•Polity•1986

  • Policy Recommendations for Multi-Actor Implementation

    Open Access•Laurence J O''Toole, Laurence J O’toole et al.•Journal of Public Policy•1986

  • Implementation Research — The Link Gone Missing

    Open Access•Benny Hjern•Journal of Public Policy•1982

  • Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches to Implementation Research

    Open Access•Paul A Sabatier, Paul Sabatier•Journal of Public Policy•1986

  • Personal Information Policies in the United States and Britain

    Open Access•Priscilla M Regan•Journal of Public Policy•1984

  • Improving Implementation Through Framing Smarter Statutes

    Open Access•Herbert Ingram, Helen Ingram et al.•Journal of Public Policy•1990

  • Implementation Research as Empirical Constitutionalism

    Open Access•Benny Hjern, Chris Hull•European Journal of Political…•1982

  • Learning From Experience

    Open Access•Milbrey Wallin Mclaughlin•Educational Evaluation and Policy…•1987

  • Complex Organizations

    Edward Gro, Edward Gross et al.•American Sociological Review•1961

  • Essence of Decision

    Ole R Holsti, Graham T Allison•The Western Political Quarterly•1972

  • A Design Perspective on Policy Implementation

    Open Access•Stephen H Linder, B Guy Peters•Review of Policy Research•1987

  • Street-Wise Social Policy

    Open Access•Steven Maynard-Moody, Steven Maynard‐moody et al.•The Western Political Quarterly•1990

  • Toward a theory of social conflict

    Open Access•Ralf Dahrendorf•Journal of Conflict Resolution•1958

Unique citing works513
Citations per year16,03
Citation span1994 - 2026 (33)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedYes
Citation typesNeutral: 485
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae