Leading in Lean Times

How Do We Leverage Research to Make the Best Use of Limited

Resources?

Background• Maryland State Highway Administrator, 2003-2011

• Maryland Governor’s Highway Safety Representative, 2003-2011

• Chair, SHA Research Advisory Board, 2003-2011

• Member, AASHTO Standing Committee on Research, 2004-2011

• Chair, TRB Executive Committee, 2011

• Chair, Technical Coordinating Committee, SHRP 2 Capacity, 2005-2012

• Deputy Director for Implementation and Communication, SHRP 2, 2012

Maryland SHA

• Modal agency of Maryland DOT; major multi-modal emphasis

• Responsible for 5,200 miles (17%), 2,500 bridges (50%)

• $1 billion budget• Highly urbanized; one of the most congested

freeway networks in the nation• 486 fatalities, below 1.0 per million vmt

Performance-Based Management

• Four-year business plan provides direction to agency

• Six major goals, objectives, performance measures

• Detailed performance review quarterly; resources reallocated based on reviews

• Accountability through StateStat and performance reporting to legislature

Key Performance Areas

• Traffic safety• Maintenance and system preservation• Mobility• Environmental stewardship• Customer service• Managing our resources

Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence

• Criteria used to evaluate companies for the prestigious Baldrige Award– Leadership– Strategic planning– Customer focus– Measurement, analysis, knowledge management– Workforce focus– Operations focus– Results

Principles of Leading in Lean Times

• Safety is # 1 priority• Use business plan to guide organization• Data-driven decision making• Accountability; transparency• Good stewards of taxpayer dollars• Customer service-driven organization• Sustainability; decisions for the long term• Operation of system is a key focus• Constantly striving for process improvement

Using Research to Support These Principles

• Research program driven from priorities in the business plan

• This can result in non-traditional research being funded (e.g. economic studies)

• Research proposals must show how they support business plan goals and objectives

• Policy and research in the same office• Research to support policy initiatives (e.g.

research on safety legislative proposals)

Applying These Principles to the Research Program

• Top down and strategic research proposals, as well as bottom up tactical proposals (leadership is critical!)

• Use expected return on investment as a criterion in selecting research proposals

• Plan for implementation throughout the research phase

• Leverage research funds with other funds, such as pooled fund studies, UTC funds, program funds

Examples of Current Research

• Research on effectiveness of safety initiatives• Research on customer service improvement

strategies• External customer survey• Research on effectiveness of TMDL strategies• Bridge and pavement research is focused on

sustainability issues• Research on effectiveness of operations program