The following are generic principles and approaches to implementing change:

Build shared vision and purpose across stakeholders, through consistent communication and engaging opinion leaders.

Foster leadership at all levels, from the most senior influencers to practitioners at ground -level who will actually use the DSS tools.

Build motivation among stakeholders.

Internal motivation is a powerful force for change. Internal motivation is based on what is important to the person. Health and care professionals are usually strongly driven by the desire to provide safe, effective, person-centred care, and to achieve better outcomes for patients and service users over time. You can mobilise this internal motivation to support adoption of DSS by showing staff how DSS supports these key drivers for better care.

External motivation comes from outside the individual – for example, a policy decision or local organisational strategy to change care pathways or address gaps in practice revealed by audit reports. You can strengthen your implementation plan by aligning DSS with delivery on these external drivers for change.