Book Description

The literature review identified several methodologies used to measure performance, each having advantages and disadvantages. From this review a new methodology was created in an effort to sustain most of the advantages identified in the previous studies while eliminating many of the disadvantages. The primary concern was to eliminate the state comparison methodology and focus on measurement of improvement over time. The new methodology primarily uses the same measurement categories identified in a study by David Hartgen from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Data from 1992 to 1998 were obtained from the Federal Highway Administration's annual "Highway Statistics" and entered into a three-year rolling average formula. This formula created five data points by averaging each three-year group of data from 1992 to 1998. Then an average annual percentage change in each category was calculated. The five states showing the largest percentage improvement in each of the output categories were identified as "high performing." The high performing states were probed in an effort to identify methodologies and strategies that caused improvement in the respective categories. The probes resulted in the identification of several successful methodologies. These methodologies are identified in the body of the report