Decision Support Tools - Thematic Research Summary - Transport ...

Evaluation is an activity which seeks to determine, as systematically and objectively aspossible, the relevance, efficiency and effect of a policy or project in terms of its objectives.Evaluation of a policy supports the decision making process in all its phases from theagenda setting or problem definition phase to the policy implementation phase.Furthermore, evaluation can serve several purposes such as:• assessment of the impacts of a policy intervention, and, in connection with this,provision of information for using and allocating public resources;• assessment of the acceptance of an intervention among citizens and stakeholdersin order to provide feedback as part of a monitoring exercise.Benchmarking is a technique which extends performance measurement and can supportthe development and implementation of the various elements of a European sustainabletransport policy. It aims at improving policy implementation and the performance oftransport systems by a dynamic process including:• identification and development of best practice standards;• comprehension of the reasons for differences in performance;• improvement of performances and processes by adapting the lessons learnt tolocal circumstances.The above summary of topics describes the principal breakdown of technical,organisational and managerial aspects that come under the theme, whereas Section 4 ofthis document reflects sub-themes according to actual priorities in transport researchpolicy.Thematic Research Summary: “Decision Support Tools” Page: 15 of 74Transport Research Knowledge Centre