CDOT Performance Data Business Plan - Cambridge Systematics

CDOT Performance Data Business Plan
Methods of enacting and enforcing policy and procedure are not consistent at
CDOT (and possibly even ignored.)
There is a great deal of data at CDOT. The agency needs to be more efficient
in reporting it, more standard/universal methods to report and avoid
variations.
There are opportunities to reduce the redundancy of data (i.e., both
Maintenance and Pavement collecting the same data items.) In some cases,
there are several offices collecting the same data. For example, it was
recently discovered that several units are all going into the field and
collecting the same asset data (culverts and fences.)
CDOT needs a repository/library for information to reside in and standard
ways to report.
There is a disconnect with respect to data, i.e., different branches own
different data which makes it difficult to establish performance measures.
In summary, CDOT is clearly in need of an improved structure to reduce
redundancy in data collection, clarify/standardize terms/definitions used,
clarify roles and responsibilities, and identify and prioritize stakeholder needs
for data.
This improved governance will result in improved sharing of data and
information, improved input to the performance reporting process, improved
ability to fund/prioritize new data programs, ability to measure the right things
at the appropriate level of detail, take advantage of newer technology and tools,
facilitate integration of data and ensure quality decisions are made based on
informative data.
4.3 RECOMMENDATIONS AND TIMELINE
This project provides CDOT with a unique opportunity to recommend specific
steps to carry out successful data management through a data governance
approach. The timing is ideal, as the information technology management team
(ITMT) has been engaged in recent discussion regarding improvements in data
including data governance and document management systems.
As indicated above, data governance is a method by which successful data
management is accomplished – essentially data governance falls under the
concepts of data management. For example, techniques such as some of those
being discussed by the ITMT (such as document management systems) really fall
more into the realm of data management.
The recommendations in this section pertain to CDOT data management needs
with a focus on data governance. Additional recommendations related to data
collection and data assessment are located in Appendix A.
4-14 Cambridge Systematics, Inc.