LAUSR

Abstract This article examines the factors that lead to the successful implementation of strategic initiatives by U.S. municipalities by testing a contingent model of strategic implementation using project management theory, concluding that situational context alters the relationships between implementation tactics and implementation efficiency. Specifically, this study demonstrates that there are different sets of success factors in four contexts defined by a 2 × 2 typology based on high and low levels of initiative priority and implementation complexity. The tests are conducted utilizing a sample of 218 strategic initiatives gathered from 44 U.S. municipalities. The study also highlights the importance of a dedicated budget allocation for an implementation effort. Collectively, the study endorses contingent implementation approaches based on situational context and calls for further study to identify specifically the most effective contingent implementation approaches.