Based on a survey completed by the Joint Task Force on the Impacts of Digitalization on the Workforce, it was good to see many State DOTs embarking on the journey of data management and analytics. Many of us understand the potential of this worthy effort and have seen the fruits through improved/efficient work processes, enhanced solutions to challenges, and improved situational awareness to name a few. We were also able to quickly see some of the impacts of COVID-19 not only to our respective agencies but to society as a whole.
While these are noble efforts, are they enough to answer the reason why we desire to capture, integrate, and use data effectively? Are these reasons enough to overcome institutional barriers such as organization resource reallocation, organizational silos, data/information sharing, etc? In my opinion, they are not. I believe that we are answering the “why” too narrowly. It is not about data integration, it’s ultimately about organizational integration.
The real payback is from having a larger/broader view of the “why.” While we are transitioning from the industrial age to the digital age, I believe the next is the knowledge age. We have heard that data is the new asphalt and that its importance is starting to rival that of physical assets. I believe data/information will become the backbone or nervous system of our organizations. We need integrated organizations to tap the unused talent and experience of our people, to increase awareness of our role within the context of the whole organization and reinforce the notion that we don’t function as discrete units, to enhance alignment of our efforts towards desired goals, to have a greater awareness of our capabilities. We need organizations capable of evolving with the understanding that comes from these outcomes. Data integration/management will allow this improvement to occur if we are willing to challenge many institutional barriers that exist.
Striving for this “larger” purpose will move us all in the direction I believe we must go. It will make some of us uncomfortable, maybe even threatened, but that is ok. I believe those feelings can be the seedbed of growth, leadership, and innovation. If you are looking for ways to tangibly implement these broader purposes, a good way is the become actively involved with the Committee on Data Management and Analytics. I hope to see you on the journey.