1. RESEARCH PROGRAMS GETTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND STAYING THERE Sue Sillick Montana Department of Transportation July 28, 2010 Methods to Ensure the Right People are Involved for Successful Research

2. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Why is it critical to have the right people involved in research? The people involved in research can make or break a project.

3. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Who are the people involved in MDT research? Technical Panel (TP) Research Review Committee (RRC) Sponsor Field Research Coordinators (FRC) Champion Research Staff Principal Investigator (PI)

4. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Research Review Committee Composition (15) Director Deputy Director Chief Officers (3) Division Administrators (6) One District Administrator Research Program Manager (chair) FHWA WTI Research Director

5. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Research Review Committee Role Determines which research projects move forward to technical panels Approves funding for all research projects Reviews implementation recommendations Reviews technical panel recommendations for each project Reviews and approves scopes of work

6. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Sponsor Agrees the project is necessary High level MDT staff person Willing to ensure results are implemented Signs on to the project

7. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Technical Panel Composition Champion/Chair Research Staff FHWA Western Transportation Institute Others

8. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Technical Panel Role Oversees project from inception through implementation Reviews Roles and Responsibilities document at first meeting Determines if others should be on the panel Keeps their stakeholders in the loop Critical for success

9. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Technical Panel Additional Role for Champion Presents all panel recommendations to RRC Chairs the technical panel Identifies technical panel members Presents topic to RRC for approval

10. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Technical Panel Reviews panel member recommendations Serves as the Research Project Manager Liaison between panel and consultant Additional Role for Research Staff Bring new members up to speed

11. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Field Research Coordinator Research liaison between HQ and Field One per district (5 districts) Assigned by each District Engineer 2-way communication Research ideas, construction schedules, etc into HQ Technology transfer out to districts Formally meet once a year, continuous communication Construction Reviewers participate

12. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Principal Investigator/Research Team Methods to ensure right research team is selected for the job Past performance feedback loop Reference checks Key to project success Previous products Proposal review

13. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Principal Investigator/Research Team Methods to ensure research teams perform while on the job Project kick-off meeting Report writing requirements Technical panel and research staff oversight Constant communication and feedback

14. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Principal Investigator/Research Team Evaluation methods Project Exit Survey Annual/Ongoing performance appraisals

15. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Every project is a potential for lessens learned. With every lesson learned, we try to improve our process so the issue doesn’t happen again

16. RESEARCH PROGRAMS Questions? ssillick@mt.gov mdt.mt.gov/research Thank you