Management by measurement: a performance management approach for assessing ITS (Intelligent Transport Systems) projects in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past decade, the South African transport environment has actively started to adapt a technology-driven setting. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications such as Advanced TrafficManagement Systems (ATMS) and Advanced Public Transport Systems (APTS) have since beenpromoted and developed.However, little thought is given to ITS performance management in the conceptualisation- andplanning phases of the ITS applications. As a result, the monitoring is mostly done by a modular- andpossibly inconsistent performance measurement approach. Moreover, in the absence of a set of widely accepted performance measures and transferable methodologies, it is very difficult for the local transport industry to objectively assess the effects of their specific applications with regard to the implementation of policies and technologies. The aforementioned concerns raise scepticism around the sustainability of the newly deployed advanced transport systems.In order to ensure the sustainability of the ITS applicators, it is proposed that a systematic approachto performance management, through performance measurement, be promoted. Even though the concept of managing performance measurement is in its infancy, it is believed that, with the attainment of the proposition made herein, a performance management regime, possibly nation-wide, may follow.The aim of this research project is thus to develop an all-encompassing measurement framework that lays the groundwork for managing the performance, and contributes towards the sustainability, of theITS deployments. This was accomplished by executing six methodical steps. These were to: 1) identify all of the performance-related aspects that are applicable to the transport measurement environment, 2) present these aspects in a performance measurement framework, 3) establish the performance measurement structure by developing standards and/or targets and allocating importance weights towards evaluating these aspects, 4) create the measurement model by utilisingMulti-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) principles in determining the (overall) performance of the ITSapplications, 5) transform the measurement framework into a Graphic User Interface (GUI) dashboardthat can act as the performance management tool and 6) instigate performance management by implementing an incentivisation structure.The advocated approach differs from the current measurement systems in place in that it embraces astructure for evaluating the performance of, specifically, technology investments in the South African transport environment. Moreover, it utilises a holistic and generic measurement framework as the baseline for performance appraisal. The method put forth herein, in the form of the envisioned performance management tool, serves as the reference point for ITS performance management. That is, it can assist implementing agencies in obtaining the necessary knowledge to easily make day-to-day informed decisions regarding the (overall) performance of their respective systems andcan aid decision makers in the continuous assessment of their investment in transport technology.The developed management tool has also met the prerequisites, as identified herein, for ensuring thewider use and application of a performance driven approach. These included, among others, that thetool be: scalable and suitable to address the specific requirements as posed by a developing countryand by the evolution of ITS technologies; holistic in the sense that it considers and includes the opinions of all possible interested parties; comprehensive such that it can be applied to both the private- and the public transport environment; concise such that it does not fall victim to Albert Einstein's mantra ('not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts); agile such that it can accommodate any changes in the employer's (or the client's) needsand/or the specific project's desired outcomes; and easy to understand and use such that it can facilitate the quick and effortless assessment of transport projects' performance in the field of technology investments.In conclusion, this author submits that the developed tool has proven to have sufficient capability,provide invaluable insights and add significant value to the transport environment, as well as being multi-functional, consistent and all-inclusive.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University