The Operations Management Team (OMT) identified the relationships of the Operations and Technical Services Divisions as a high priority issue. Believing that an opportunity existed for improved efficiency and effectiveness through a closer working relationship of the two divisions, a Task Force was formed. Made up of two Office Directors, two OMT members, and two Deputy Division Directors, the Task Force was charged to:
I. Define and clarify respective roles of District Engineers and Office Directors in each of the functional areas.
- Define the roles of the Office Directors and District Engineers and the Operations and Technical Services Divisions in each functional area.
- Recommend actions with respect to each of the functional areas.
II. Define and clarify the respective roles of the offices in the Technical Services Division and the districts in each of the seven functional areas.
III. Propose a mechanism to create a meaningful dialogue between the OMT and the TSMT (Technical Services Management Team).
The Engineering Automation Committee requested that the Management Analysis Unit evaluate the benefits of automated engineering equipment to Mn/DOT, particularly as they relate to productivity. Through review of records, documents and reports, and surveys of equipment operators and their supervisors and managers, data related to both tangible and intangible benefits were collected. The scope of the evaluation included the Surveys Data Processing System (SDPS), the Integrated Civil Engineering System (ICES), and the Interactive Graphic Design System (IGDS) used by the surveys, mapping, bridge and road design functions in the central office and four district offices.
In compliance with Minnesota Session Laws 2003 1 Special Session, Chapter 19, Article 3,1 am submitting this report on the 2003 Transportation Finance Package which is referred to as the Bond Accelerated Program. The report provides the information requested by the legislature on the current financing of the transportation projects accelerated under the Bond Accelerated Program.
This BAP Report demonstrates that the 2003 Transportation Finance Package is on course to be one of the most successful state transportation construction programs in history. Seventeen major highway construction and safety/preservation projects are on schedule to be delivered more than 60 years ahead of their original schedules. This will result in substantial savings from inflation and provide transportation system users with significant benefits years ahead of schedule.
This is the sixth annual Report on Mn/DOT Division/Office/District Diversity Plan Implementation published by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). It describes department wide diversity accomplishments for Fiscal Year 99. The report includes highlights of diversity activities in divisions/offices/districts throughout Mn/DOT during Fiscal Year 99. It also includes statistical summaries regarding the employment of racial/ethnic minority, female and disabled employees in Mn/DOT.
"Minnesota Moves Towards a State Transportation Plan" is a report on Phase II of the state transportation planning process. The major purpose of this report is to generate discussion on the transportation-related issues facing the State.
The report first contrasts the new Mn/DOT approach to planning with the traditional master plan approach. This is followed by a description of the plan and its contents. Next, the existing Minnesota transportation system is highlighted. This description of the existing transportation network and Mn/DOT s responsibilities as they relate to it, puts the transportation issues and problems facing the State into perspective.
After a brief description of the events occurring during Phase II, the report presents possible criteria or objectives to be used when choosing among projects. Lastly, issues along with alternative policies are included. Comments of the regional task forces on the criteria and issues are part of the report.
The legislation which created the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) also required Mn/DOT to prepare a state transportation plan. The purpose of this plan, which will be called Mn/DOT/PLAN, is to describe how our Department will make transportation decisions that affect the economic, environmental and social well-being of the entire state and its citizens. The theme of the Mn/DOT/PLAN development effort is participation. This report entitled MINNESOTA LOOKS AT TRANSPORTATION represents a summary of what we have heard from the people of Minnesota and their elected representatives in the first phase of our planning efforts.
At the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) we refer to our performance measurement tool as a family of measures. The family of measures is composed of outcomes and measures that focus on the following: financial, customer, internal business process and learning and growth. Families of Measures have been created to support the different levels of an organization. With a family of measures, we want neither too many measures nor too few to support critical outcomes.
The purpose of Mn/DOT's measures is to measure, track and evaluate whether customer needs and public goals are being met with the most efficient use of resources. In addition, measures will let us know if we are moving toward Mn/DOT's vision of a coordinated transportation network that provides safe, user-friendly access and movement, and responds to the values of Minnesota's citizens.
A Mn/DOT steering committee provided input to ensure that the research design addressed the department's strategic and business planning needs. Internal departmental meetings with district and business office personnel helped to identify seven key user segments common to all statewide Mn/DOT product and service providers.
Qualitative research in the form of twenty-four (24) focus groups with recruited representatives of each key user segment was conducted statewide (see Appendix A in the full report for focus group locations). Prior to each group, participants each received a list of Mn/DOT products and services (internally developed) for review. Collectively in the groups, participants determined which products and services were relevant to their segment. For a product or service to be considered non-relevant, there had to be group consensus in order for it to be dropped from further discussion. This step provided researchers with a better understanding of why a product and service was relevant, how it met user segment needs and what level of service was expected.
The dashboards in this catalog were prepared by various business units and assembled by the Office of Business Planning in preparation for Mn/DOT's quarterly Commissioner's Forum 5, held March 7, 2001. At the forum, Multimodal and Maintenance dashboards with drill-downs were presented as a demonstration. At future forums, other business unit dashboards will be selected.
This catalog is not complete. It is a sampling of performance measures used by Mn/DOT groups and business units. Program Support Group dashboards are still under review.
A dashboard is a simplified management information tool that visually reports data on performance measures and targets for easy review. As one Mn/DOT manager said, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Behind each dashboard, there should be spreadsheets, tables, or historical graphs. Managers should evaluate historical trends to see if results are getting better or worse.
This document provides a framework for developing a long-term strategy for managing information in the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). It is starting point for discussion.
