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6. Summary and Potential Future Research
Pages 144-150

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From page 144...
... Others commented on the importance of communication and collaboration skills for employees within SOM and indicated that finding engineering applicants with these skills is a challenge; these skills are primarily developed through experiences and cross-training in diverse fields. Other participants suggested that the training offered to students is too broad and that entry-level applicants frequently lack key, specialized SOM skills, including intelligent transportation systems (ITS)
From page 145...
... DOTs are particularly in need of support and further research to compile and develop the resources to support ongoing staff education; interviewees indicated that the curricula used at many universities and colleges do not address or engage SOM skills at all. To better support SOM capacity and staff development at DOTs and regional agencies, research is needed in a number of areas: Brand SOM through research in the cost effectiveness of investments in SOM compared to traditional capacity construction.
From page 146...
... DOT SOM would benefit from further investigation into how innovation is being fostered and supported in other transportation agencies, including research on lessons learned from existing DOT Operations Innovation Programs. It would also serve DOT SOM well to conduct research into specific tools and techniques used by transportation agencies to facilitate innovation such as performance metrics, ROI instruments, and workforce development programs.
From page 147...
... This, combined with recent trends -- including retirements among DOTs' most knowledgeable staff, increasingly finite economic resources, the push for productivity advancements, and legal staff's limited familiarity with IP issues -- suggests that managing and protecting IP rights may be one of the foremost legal challenges of tomorrow in the transportation industry, for which DOTs require research support. The IP manage ment mechanisms and practices set forth by industries successful in managing their property rights could potentially inform, improve, and otherwise transform the IP manage ment practices, strategies, and techniques in transportation.
From page 148...
... Thus, DOTs could use supporting research to compile this information. Identify existing SOM training resources that DOTs have developed and further develop resources for "virtual exposure" to working conditions in various SOM positions as well as basic training for core SOM positions.
From page 149...
... Almost every interview participant representing a DOT on the West Coast indicated a need to create an operations training academy, similar to the University of Maryland Operations Academy, in their region of the country or, alternatively, a web-based SOM training academy program. Additionally, participants discussed a shared need for DOT-level training, since it is critical that SOM personnel understand the infrastructure, operations, and stakeholders at the agency level.
From page 150...
... Some DOTs are starting to use social media but most may not know where to begin in implementing this tool into their recruitment activities and daily workforce management approach. Thus, it would be helpful for these DOTs to have an overview of what other DOTs are doing with regards to social media and case studies that address how and why they are doing it, lessons learned, and explicit instructions.


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