>>So when do you use the parent class implementation ?
>
>I am not sure I understand the question correctly.
>
>All overridable methods are called in the framework class. If the developer implements those methods in the client application, something will be executed.

So you could use interfaces to avoid reflection. Essentially something like this?:

Public Interface IInitializeWithRow
	Function InitializeWithRow() As Boolean
End Interface

Public Class BaseClass
	Public Function Operation() As Boolean
		Dim theClass = TryCast(Me, IInitializeWithRow)
		If theClass IsNot Nothing Then
			Return theClass.InitializeWithRow()
		Else
			Return False
		End If
	End Function
End Class

Public Class ChildClass1
	Inherits BaseClass
	Implements IInitializeWithRow
	Public Function InitializeWithRow() As Boolean Implements IInitializeWithRow.InitializeWithRow
		Return True
	End Function
End Class

Public Class ChildClass2
	Inherits BaseClass
End Class