transportation information: what comes next? robert c. johns, director center for transportation...
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Transportation Information: What Comes Next?
Robert C. Johns, Director
Center for Transportation Studies
University of Minnesota
Knowledge & Library Connectivity Conference: MTKN Fifth Annual Meeting and Transportation Library
Connectivity Pooled Fund Study Consortium
October 19, 2005
Kansas City, Missouri
Tremendous Progress
• Minnesota Planning Meeting
• Wisconsin Conference
• NCHRP Scoping Study
• TRB Policy Study
• Pooled Fund Project
• Today: A Perspective on Future Directions
T.S. Eliot
“Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”
(From the poem by T. S. Eliot, The Rock)
Influential Thinkers
• Peter Drucker: Knowledge Worker• Peter Senge: Learning Organization• Andrew Van de Ven: Innovation Journey• Richard Florida: Creative Age
Technology Evolution
• IBM 360, Service Bureau
• Personal Computer, VisiCalc
• Word Processing Centers, Early E-mail
• Voicemail, Pagers
• Internet E-mail, World Wide Web
• Cell Phones, PDAs
• Blackberries, Treos
Information in Context (DIKW)
• Data
• Information
• Knowledge
• Wisdom
(From Harlan Cleveland)
Key Players
• Data: IT Professionals
• Information: Librarians, Writers, Analysts
• Knowledge: Transportation Professionals, Managers
• Wisdom: Executives, Managers
Use of Information in Decisions
• Data and Information Staff are Resources to Professionals
• Professionals Use Data and Information to Enhance Knowledge and Propose Actions
• Managers Use Proposals by Professionals to Recommend Options
• Executives Use Wisdom to Choose Directions• How to get Executive Support for Library
Activities?
Importance of Relationships
• Executive’s Wisdom Influenced by Source of Recommendation (Trust)
• Professionals Influenced by Peers in their Network (AASHTO, TRB, etc.)
• Example: Rural Safety Center in SAFETEA-LU
• Key Question for Executive Support: What is Relationship of Librarians to Professionals?
CTS Information Activities
• Researchers Produce Data, Information and Recommendations
• CTS Goal is to Influence Knowledge of Professionals and Managers
• Complaints of Ivory Tower, Theory• Strategy: Integrated Set of Information
Activities• Success Gains Support of Executives
Making Information Available
• Both Hard Copy and Electronic Information
• Summaries by Technical Writers
• Newsletters
• Web Sites
• Translations
• Press Releases
Enhancing Relationships• CTS Committees of Researchers and
Professionals• Seminars, Workshops, Conferences• Technical Advisory Panels• Executive and Management
Committees• CTS Relationships with Decision-
Makers
CTS Example
• Completion of Research Report• Design of Research Web Pages• Customer Database for Mailing Lists• Summary Articles in E-News and Web• Links to Web Site for PDF and Browsing• Subscription Page for Other Newsletters• Seminar, Conference Session• Press Release if Appropriate
Disciplines Required for Success
• Technical Writers• Graphic Designers• Librarians• IT Professionals• Conference Planners• Facilitators/Trainers• Public Relations Staff• Leaders with Connections
Challenges and Risks
• Costs/Priority
• Integration of Disciplines
• Electronic Security
• Mistakes
• Customer Impacts
• Changing Technology/Roles
Future Directions
• Library Services Infrastructure
• Collection, Cataloguing, Reference
• Electronic Access/Searches
• Essential But Not Enough
• Also Need Proactive Information Activities
Future Directions
• Expand and Define Role of Librarians• Provide Value to and Enhance Relationships
with Professionals• Integrate Information Disciplines • Educate Management Hierarchy• Give Visibility to Executive Champions• Influence/Monitor Changes in Terminology,
Education, etc.• Embrace Team Leadership
Margaret Mead
• “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”