A lukewarm embrace

摘要

There's a big gap between recently developed, commercially ready technology and its widespread use, or adoption, in the public sector-especially with those who are responsible for building and managing this nation's infrastructure. Undoubtedly, you've already heard the most common excuses: 1. Risk aversion; 2. Uncertainty of added value; 3. Reluctance to change; 4. "Try it somewhere else first;" and 5. Lack of time due to heavy workload. Those reasons, most typically offered by engineers and mid-level management, are really not the problem. An organization's culture, devel- oped over many years, drives the adoption rate. DOT secretaries, commissioners and directors need to aggressively evangelize the adoption of new technology and techniques to ensure a constant stream of added -value for the taxpaying public. Without consistent, top-down emphasis on new technology adoption, engineers and mid-level managers, who are rightly focused on the operational aspects of their jobs, won't perceive that rewards for increasing productivity, decreasing costs and increasing value override the time investment or the perceived risks of failure for proposing new technology adoption. Taxpayers of this nation will be best served by a high-level, consistent and meaningful focus on the adoption of promising new technologies, especially in the public sector.