SPR 19-574: Identification and Preservation of Core Competencies and Risk Management

This Research Program for the period July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2020 is submitted in compliance with the provisions of Section 307 of Title 23, United States Code, and describes programs and operations for planning activities in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and the Kentucky Cooperative Transportation Research Program (KCTRP). This program modifies and updates such programs and is specifically intended to reflect the needs of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. It is fully expected that products from this program will also have national applications. The University of Kentucky Transportation Center is the main research group for the the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. The SPR grant is the funding the is supplied each year for the many topics the Center is asked to research for KYTC The KCTRP is concerned with the development and conduct of a comprehensive research program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In addition to research developed in cooperation with FHWA, the KCTRP may perform other services for the KYTC on a nonparticipating basis. The scope of these services could include activities such as research studies and special investigations of various engineering and operation activities. The Research Program and Implementation Advisory Committee (RPIAC), headed by the State Highway Engineer and coordinated through the Research Coordinator, will give direction to the research program. State transportation agencies (STAs) have struggled in recent years to define core competencies. A core competency consists of various skills, technical knowledge, and technologies that, taken in combination, are indispensable for helping an organization to achieve its mission. Guidance from previous research has aided STAs in identifying their core competencies. However, much of this guidance is vague. Without clear and unambiguous guidance, STA leadership cannot efficiently determining what core competencies should be retained within their respective organizations. Due to a challenging funding environment and staff attrition KYTC, like other STAs, is increasingly outsourcing projects and relying on innovative highway program delivery methods. As such, it is critical for KYTC leadership to determine, develop, and maintain a set of core competencies to ensure that oversight and decision-making skills remain in-house. Retaining core competencies is essential for managing and mitigating risks that arise when there are insufficient competencies to oversee and review the work of consultants and contractors. Despite the proliferation of outsourcing and innovative delivery methods, STAs are still responsible for determining acceptable levels of risk and ensuring those levels of risk is maintained when delivering a highway program. While some risks arise due to a lack of inhouse knowledge, other risks are present across I