Accelerating Implementation of Transportation Research Results (2014)

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61 APPENDIX A Interview Protocols Tier 1 (Screening) Interview Introduction: • Project description: The study is being conducted to learn from organizations outside transportation that have developed techniques for bridging the gap between research and implementation and bringing research to market quickly. Ongoing sponsored research in the highway community could benefit from understanding and incorporating similar fast-tracking processes for high-payoff research. • Synthesis project: State of practice report, to be used to provide insight for research program management within the highway transportation community; primarily for use by public-sector entities. • Consultant: Barbara T. Harder, principal, B. T. Harder, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. • Sponsors: AASHTO member departments (in particular research units), in partnership with FHWA, and administered by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. • Explain purpose of the call: To determine who would be the most appropriate person to discuss the organization’s implemen- tation experiences and discuss best practice examples—if the person is the one who would supply the detailed information sought, then follow the line of questioning for the Tier 2 (Detailed) Interview. • Restate that the work is a synthesis, and that the interviewee will not be quoted; ask for permission to include the person’s name and contact information in the list of interviewees that will be included in the final report. Seek information: • Check that the person is an appropriate first contact. Ask if the person can provide general information about the organiza- tion’s research activities and results implementation processes. If not, find out who is the right first contact. • Ask for general descriptions of the type of program, type of research, staffing, location, facilities, and extent of implementa- tion activities and any other descriptive information about the program. • Ask for the size of the budget for research and for implementation, if available. • Ask if there are any barriers to include material from an interview in the synthesis. • Get detailed contact information for person(s) most clearly responsible for management of implementation. • Determine if there are any specific issues or items that should be pursued. • Get an initial grasp of the types of documentation and publications, websites, and other general information that might be available. • At conclusion of interview, express thanks: confirm the person’s contact information, and that the person will not be quoted, but name and contact information will be included in the synthesis report; provide B. T. Harder, Inc., contact information (phone number, e-mail address) should the interviewee have any follow-up questions or observations. • Send a thank you e-mail. Tier 2 (Detailed) Interview An e-mail was sent to the majority of tier 2 interviewees prior to conducting the interviews. This introductory e-mail established the scope and purpose of the interview, listed a few questions regarding the information sought during the time on the telephone, and confirmed the date and time for the interview. Several interviewees were available at the time of calling to schedule the interview, and e-mail correspondence was not necessary. Introduction: (Review introductory material to the extent it is needed—much of the information was included in the e-mail sent to the tier 2 interviewees.) • Project description: The study is being conducted to learn from organizations outside transportation that have developed techniques for bridging the gap between research and implementation and bringing research to market quickly. Ongoing sponsored research in the highway community could benefit from understanding and incorporating similar fast-tracking processes for high-payoff research. • Synthesis project: State of practice report, to be used to provide insight for management of research programs within the highway transportation community; primarily for use by public-sector entities.

62 • Consultant: Barbara T. Harder, principal, B. T. Harder, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. • Sponsors: AASHTO member departments (in particular research units), in partnership with FHWA, and administered by the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. • Explain purpose of the call: To seek information regarding the organizations’ strategies and methods to ensure research results are applied/used in operational practice; and to identify processes that may be applicable to highway transportation practice that would cause acceleration in implementation of research results/innovations. • Restate that the work is a synthesis, and that the interviewee will not be quoted. Ask for permission to include the person’s name and contact information in the list of interviewees that will be included in the final report. Seek information: • Confirm that the person is the correct person to interview—confirm the person is involved with implementation of research results and can provide experience examples. • Clarify terminology; interviewee may use different terms than “implementation.” • Identify the person’s expertise, experience, and responsibilities. • Get detailed contact information. • Get program overview and determine the extent of implementation activities; where are the research results implemented— what are the user organizations. • Seek to understand the organizational environment and culture in which implementation of research results are being performed. • Ask for the top factors that positively influence the timing of implementation activities. • Ask for the top three factors that negatively influence the timing of implementation activities (if there are more, people will give them). • Ask what facilitates or eases the implementation process so that the process has fewer hurdles and barriers and moves more quickly. • Seek information about what types of talent and expertise are available to perform implementation work. • Ask for a description of a successful implementation experience and how the success factors affected the process. • Ask for recommendations of any unique programs or processes that may be applicable to transportation. • What documentation is there that describes the implementation processes and examples (get websites or report locations). • At conclusion of interview, express thanks: confirm the person’s contact information, and that the person will not be quoted, but that name and contact information will be included in the synthesis report; provide B. T. Harder, Inc., contact information (phone number, e-mail address) should the interviewee have any follow-up questions or observations. • Send a thank you e-mail.