Transportation Technology Transfer: Successes, Challenges, and Needs (2005) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 17-31
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From page 17... ...
For research results produced by its own program, research unit staffs provide or enlist the expertise, identify necessary resources, and work in partnership with operating units to do what is needed to put an innovation into practice. For programs that contract for research, research units have the added role of being a liaison between the external researcher and the operating unit user.
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From page 18... ...
The factors discussed are: • Technology Push • Champions • Pilots Projects and Demonstrations • Senior Management Support • Early Involvement of Users • Technology Transfer or Implementation Plan • Qualified Technical Personnel in Lead Roles • Partnerships • Progress Monitoring and Committed Funding • Focus Area for Technology Transfer Effort • Marketing and Communications • Benefits of the Technology -- Meeting Users' Needs. Technology Push One significant factor affecting successful technology transfer is the push that technology exerts on prospective users.
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From page 19... ...
. For each of these success factors rated by the state DOTs and LTAP/TTAP centers there is a section that discusses the factor and provides additional information about its 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Other Dedicated Funding for T2 Progress Monitoring Qualified Technical Leader Implementation Plan User Involvement Senior Mgmt.
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From page 20... ...
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 180 Other Progress Monitoring Dedicated T2 Funding Pilot Project Use, Field Demos T2 Champion Early User Involvement Senior Management Support T2 Plan Qualified Technical Personnel Fa ct or s Number of Responses n = 22 FIGURE 4 Success factors for technology transfer -- LTAP/TTAP. (Multiple responses were permitted.)
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From page 21... ...
Senior management support was ranked the third most influential for success of those factors ranked by both research units and LTAP/TTAP centers. 22 The following Technology Application Note on the Oregon DOT LTAP Center discusses the influence and impact of senior management on the success of technology transfer.
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From page 22... ...
Qualified Technical Personnel in Lead Roles Top ranked among the success factors for LTAP/TTAP centers is qualified technical personnel in lead roles. Without technical expertise little transfer of knowledge and understanding of an innovation would occur.
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From page 23... ...
The research units determined that such qualified technical capacity was an important success factor, although other factors such as champions, pilot programs and demonstrations, and senior management support had higher rankings in the synthesis survey. The Technology Application Note that follows illustrates the value General Motors assigns to having well-qualified people in lead roles for technology transfer.
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From page 24... ...
Association Expert Other State Peers Federal Agency Experts Field Maintenance Office Staff Outside Research Organization Region/Dist. Office Staff HQ Program/Operations Staff Research Office Personnel Ty pe o f P ar tic ip an t Average Involvement Rating 3 - high involvement 2 - moderate involvement 1 - low involvement 0 - no involvement n = 38 FIGURE 5 Average involvement of participants in successful technology transfer efforts -- State DOT.
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From page 25... ...
. However, more needs to be done, and state 0 1 2 30.5 1.5 2.5 Outside Research Organization State DOT Research Office University Administration State DOT Region/District Office Federal Agency Experts T2 Contractor Other Peer with Technology Experience State DOT Maintenance Field Office Trade/Professional Association Expert University Educators/Researchers Local or Municipal Expert State DOT Program/Operations Office O rg an iz at io n Average Involvement Rating 3 - high involvement 2 - moderate involvement 1 - low involvement 0 - no involvement n = 22 FIGURE 6 Average involvement of participants in successful technology transfer efforts -- LTAP/TTAP.
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From page 26... ...
In addition, the majority of the 22 LTAP/TTAP centers responding to the survey reported that they also receive funding from up to five other sources, including training fees, state funds, university funds, local funds, and private-sector funds. Often the funds, such as the SP&R research funds, require matches.
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From page 27... ...
Although this project focused on communicating the benefits of research, the findings have also provided an opportunity for the research unit to apply these methods to the implementation and technology transfer process. The following four Technology Application Notes show the value of marketing and communications for three state DOTs, Indiana, Washington State, and Ohio, and the 3M Company.
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From page 28... ...
. 3M Company Communications and Internal Technology Transfer The following Technology Application Note is based on a telephone interview with a 3M representative and an interview with Dr.
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From page 29... ...
The degree to which the technology transfer effort could be replicated had little relationship to the various technology transfer processes conducted during these efforts. The state DOTs provided some insight to the elements that were easiest or hardest to replicate.
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From page 30... ...
This shows that some state DOTs are using the LTAP centers as outlets for deployment of their research products. What happened as a result of the technology transfer efforts for the successful projects identified by the survey respondents?
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From page 31... ...
Change Policy Change Safety Enhancement Resource Savings Specification/Standard Change Effectiveness/Efficiency Improvement O u tc om e Frequency n = 38 FIGURE 9 Result of successful technology transfer -- State DOT. (Multiple responses were permitted.)
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