Rather than responding to emerging issues in a piecemeal fashion, agencies can create an integrated plan of actions that responds to the full range of anticipated future changes.
The guidebook introduces the Agency Capability Building (ACB) framework, which provides a big picture view of the changes that are occurring that impact transportation agencies and the ways in which agencies can respond to these changes in order to continue to successfully deliver on their missions. The ACB framework consists of three components:
• Change Forces are factors and trends affecting DOTs. They are either positive or negative disrupters that impact an agency’s ability to deliver value to their customers. Example: MAP-21/FAST introduced new performance-based planning and programming requirements.
• Needs are defined as the essential capabilities that DOTs must strengthen to respond to the change forces. Needs can be interpreted as the gaps between an agency’s current capabilities and those required to adapt to change forces. Example: the MAP21/FAST requirements created the need for state DOTs to develop new data analysis capabilities.
• Strategies are ways that DOTs can respond to the needs. Strategies are used to strengthen existing capabilities and develop new capabilities to adapt to change forces. Example: a state DOT might use workforce management approaches to recruit and retain staff with data analysis skills needed to meet the MAP21/FAST requirements.
The ACB framework provides a structure for considering changes to organizational structure, workforce composition and training, management techniques, and technology using a holistic approach. Rather than responding to emerging issues in a piecemeal fashion, agencies can create an integrated plan of actions that responds to the full range of anticipated future changes.
The guidebook is organized into six chapters, which can be read comprehensively or individually.
Chapter 1. Introduction provides a definition of organizational capability, describes how capabilities will be presented and used in the guidebook and provides an overview of the guidebook organization.
Chapter 2. Agency Capability Building Framework describes the change forces, needs and strategies and presents examples that highlight the challenges and opportunities agencies face.
Chapter 3. Strategies describes the strategies that agencies can use to adapt to the change forces and needs, and points readers to available resources with further information on these strategies.
Chapter 4. Role-Based Guidance presents guidance geared to helping people playing specific roles within a transportation agency recognize and respond to change forces.
Chapter 5. Scenario-Based Guidance illustrates application of the ACB framework in different situations.
Chapter 6. Developing an Agency Capability-Building Action Plan details the steps involved in developing an action plan focused on capability building.