AASHTO – SCOR - RAC

Value of Research Task Force

Meeting Minutes

Date

/ April 7, 2009 /

Time

/ 1:30 p.m.

Facilitator

/ Mara Campbell / Scribe / Donna C. Linnenbrink
Subject / Value of Research Task Force Conference Call
Attendees / Chris Jenks, Bill Zaccognino, Dale Peabody, Daryl Dockstader, Glen Roberts, David Kuehn, Mara Campbell, Jon Woodland, Peggy Tadej
Follow Up on Action Items from February 26, 2009
Action Item /

Follow Up Report

/

Owner

Email the communication toolkit to all the members. / Completed at the end of February. / Mara Campbell
Contact Pat Casey regarding a marketing piece utilizing previously collected research topics packaged for the summer meeting that would be provided to SCOR. / Chris Jenks spoke with Pat Casey, and he is more than willing to develop this marketing piece. Tentatively, Mr. Casey will use 2-3 examples of successful research from each AASHTO region to provide broad examples for this collateral piece. NCHRP examples in addition to FHWA projects were recommended for inclusion. The money utilized for these types of projects was reapproved at the SCOR meeting so funding is available, although Mr. Casey is currently not under contract.
The marketing piece should demonstrate to CEO’s the impacts of research to the transportation community. This piece should focus on research completed, how it was used, and pay back/results.
Mr. Crawford Jenks will contact Mara to discuss continued involvement of the task force as an informal review panel in development of the marketing piece. Those participating in the call suggested that Mr. Casey develop a draft document using / Chris Jenks
Contact Pat Casey, continued / information previously collected then submit to task force members for content review. Mara stressed the need for timely review of the draft due to the short production time frame in advance of the summer meeting.
It was noted that significant research projects identified through submission for the round table discussion at the summer meeting should be added to the marketing piece later.
Contact Randy Battey to see if paragraph written on the research media-marketing program can be included in summer meeting / Mara contacted Randy and it is possible this will be highlighted during the Mentoring/RAC101 session. The RAC agenda/program is very tight this year due to the combination of the TRB State Rep meeting and the RAC meeting. / Mara Campbell
Contact David Kuehn to discuss assessing the value of research subgroup (leadership position). / After discussion with Mr. Kuehn, it was determined a DOT representative may be appropriate for the leadership role of this subgroup. Mara will continue to seek leadership from other DOT’s. / Mara Campbell
Distribute template to be used to solicit topics for high value research discussion at the summer meeting. / The template has been distributed and responses are being generated. It was noted that completed templates may provide ideas for revision of the template. A suggestion was offered to insert a column to document impact for future use of the template. The Value of Research Task Force will be collecting all of the templates to ensure distribution and marketing of these projects. / Dale Peabody

Key Points Discussed

No. / Topic / Highlights
1.
1. / Update from Communicating the Value of Research
Update from Communicating the Value of Research, continued / The communication toolkit has been developed and shared with task force members. Ms. Campbell voiced concerns that the research community may not be aware of the toolkit.
Mara contacted Richard Long and Sandra Larson to see if it would be appropriate for this topic to be included in the Mentoring/RAC101 session of the RAC program in July. In addition, there was discussion about conducting a Webinar on this topic. Ms. Campbell will discuss this further with Ms. Lindsay to see if this could be coordinated.
2. / Update from Assessing the Value of Research / Ms. Campbell reported that a resource listing of performance measures currently used within the research community has been developed. The list of performance measures the research community uses to determine effectiveness and value is being revised with a target completion date of 30 days. Peggy Tadej indicated she would like to have a copy of the current list, which Ms. Campbell will forward.
It was noted the RPM tool should be utilized more within the research community. A user group to support RPM was developed.
3. / Update from Support for SCOR Action / Dale Peabody noted this subgroup met a month ago with a focus on documenting and eliciting research outcomes costs and benefits.
4. / High Value Research Project Link/Site (Projects submitted for Orlando Meeting) / Ms. Campbell committed this task force to assuring the high value research projects submitted for the summer meeting are posted on a project link/site. The task force’s focus will be to develop and post documents in a readable format versus publishing information in a spreadsheet format and to Include links for additional information.
5. / Research performance Measurement Webinar / Leni Oman is hosting a RAC 4 Show and Tell Webinar on April 21, 2009, from 12 – 2 p.m. PDT that will focus on research performance measurement and will discuss how they measure and share: the value of research results; the performance of research projects; and the performance of project participants. It was noted that Darryl Dockstader and Peggy Tadej will be participating in the Webinar; Mr. Dockstader volunteered to document notes and forward to task force members.
6. / RAC Summer Meeting / The RAC summer meeting time frames have been compressed in an effort to allow as many state representatives to attend as possible. As a result, there are limited times for task force meetings. Currently blocks of time for task force meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, July 21 from 6:30-8 p.m. or Wednesday, July 22 from 4-6 p.m. with reports presented on Thursday. Ms. Campbell would like to have a meeting scheduled prior to arrival in Orlando. It was noted that block times for task force meetings may not be confirmed until after April 9.
7.
7. / Rick Collins
Rick Collins, continued / Mr. Collins has been serving as vice chair and communicating task force activities to SCOR. Ms. Campbell noted a new emphasis on task force activities and reporting requirements. A SCOR working group has been established to review the strategic plan and depending on outcome of the review, task forces may be assigned additional responsibilities. Mr. Collins will be communicating with task force chairs on a regular basis specifically as it relates to strategic plan and task force activities.
8. / Region 1 / Dale Peabody reported that their Region will be putting together a sampler of research projects for distribution at the annual RAC meeting. Discussion regarding adjustment and focusing on impacts and benefits of research and creating a document with visual appeal. He mentioned that most regions do a compilation of the research they are doing in their respective regions, but perhaps we should move the emphasis to high impact or high value research successes. The regional compilations would be more generic in nature.
9. / Next Value of Research Task Group Conference Call / The task force will meet at the summer RAC meeting in July; however, discussion occurred regarding the need to schedule a conference call prior to that meeting. The next conference call will be held on Thursday, May 28 at 1:30 CDT.
Action Items
No. / Action Item /

Owner

/

Target Date

2. / E-mail list of performance measures the research community uses to determine effectiveness and value to Peggy Tadej / Mara Campbell / April 13, 2009
5. / Submit notes from Research Performance Measurement Webinar on April 21 to task force members. / Darryl Dockstader / April 24, 2009
6. / After scheduling blocks for task force meetings at summer RAC meeting are confirmed on April 9, submit times to task force members for consideration. / Mara Campbell / April 15, 2009
9. / Submit dates and times in late May/early June to Value of Research Task Force members to determine date of next conference call. / Donna Linnenbrink / April 15, 2009
Distribute conference call minutes. / Donna Linnenbrink / April 13, 2009
Include review of CEO marketing piece and significant projects submitted for summer RAC round table on July task force meeting agenda. / Mara Campbell / July 1, 2009

AASHTO – SCOR – RAC1

Value of Research Task Force Conference Call Minutes

April 7, 2009