US Department of Transportation

FHWA PlanWorks: Better Planning, Better Projects

US Department of Transportation

FHWA Planworks: Better Planning, Better Projects

Partner Collaboration Assessment


Please respond to the following statements based on your current situation. The assessment takes only a few minutes, and you can skip any section. Once finished, click View Result tab to see the summary report with your results and all strategies are available there.

You may also take the assessment off-line as an individual or as a group. The Assessment Statements (  ) and Supporting Strategies () provide you with all information in a printable format.

Assessment Questions

    

  • Process Steps

    The specific steps of a process, the logical arrangement of these steps, and the effectiveness of the handoffs between steps. For example, the procedural steps in the NEPA process.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Team members rarely voice disagreement with the documented process. X
    The process steps are clearly stated/documented. X
    The process steps are logically arranged. X
    The process steps are necessary and important. X
    The process steps can be adapted to our needs without sacrificing quality and consistency. X
    The process steps are easy to understand. X

  • Data and Information

    Data and information are required to execute any process. Within transportation decision making some types of data and information are revenue sources, project costs, plans, and GIS layers.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Key decisions are heavily influenced by the data and information that is presented by team members X
    Team members rarely voice dissatisfaction with the data and information they are provided. X
    The data and information are appropriate for the task and the available technology. X
    The data and information are current, reliable, and valid. X
    The data and information are logically organized. X
    The data and information are accessible. X
    The data and information are in a 'ready to use' format. X

  • Organizational Support

    The level of commitment received from individual agencies as represented by the availability of resources and required support. This relates to the degree of buy-in from the agency for a collaborative process.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Agencies within the partnership demonstrate collaborative behaviors. X
    Team members agree that they receive an appropriate amount of institutional support. X
    Agencies within the partnership provide resources. X
    Agencies within the partnership fund training. X
    Agencies within the partnership provide rewards and recognition. X
    Agencies within the partnership advocate for collaborative processes. X
    Team members understand how to request organizational support. X

  • Tools and Technology

    The tools and/or technologies necessary to support data, analysis, and decision making capability in a collaborative process.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Team members agree that they have been provided the right tools and technology. X
    Tools and technology are available to team members. X
    Tools and technology that the teams receive are supportive of decision-making. X
    Tools and technology that the teams receive are reliable, helpful, and/or effective. X
    Tools and technology that the teams receive are compatible with other systems and tools that the team members use. X
    Team members understand how to use the tools and technology that are provided. X

  • Decision Making Authority

    The ability of participants and the team as a whole to make Key Decisions regarding the project outcomes, and to have those decisions respected and up-help by all stakeholders.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Individual team members have the authority to make all necessary decisions. X
    The agency accepts the decisions made by its team representatives. X
    Agencies provide team members with timely decisions when requested. X
    Agencies respond to requests for clarification from the team members. X
    Individual team members have agreements/charters stating their level of decision making authority. X

  • Participant Stability

    The consistency of participation in the decision making group.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Team members agree that maintaining an intact work team is important. X
    Overall there has not been much turnover in the team. X
    Key members of the team have remained constant throughout the process. X
    Team members attend the majority of the meetings. X

  • Role Clarity

    How well individual participant roles are defined and accepted within the decision making group.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Team members rarely voice dissatisfaction with the roles they are playing in the process. X
    Participants roles and responsibilities are well understood in the decision making group. X
    Participants roles and responsibilities are well understood by stakeholders. X

  • Shared Goals

    The degree to which the decision making group supports common goals.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    The collective goals are universally accepted by project members. X
    The collective goals are clearly stated and documented. X
    The collective goals are specific. X
    The collective goals are measurable. X
    The collective goals are agreed upon. X
    The collective goals are time specific. X
    The collective goals are relevant. X
    The collective goals are aligned to the requirements. X

  • Sense of Ownership

    A feeling on the part of the team members that they have played a key role in formulating and implementing a project, that the end-product represents the combined efforts of the team, and that each individual sees the benefit that their contributions made to the team's success.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    The team members are committed to the process, goals and outcomes. X
    The team members advocate for the project. X
    The team members influence stakeholders to stay committed to the project. X
    High level of buy-in among team members makes them a high performing team. X

  • Practitioner Communication

    It is a two-way process of reaching mutual understanding, in which agencies, stakeholders, and team members not only exchange information, but also create and share meaning.

    Questions Strongly Disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree N/A
    Goals and expectations are clearly communicated to team members. X
    Team member receive an appropriate level of feedback on their performance. X
    Team members can get further clarification from their team members and/or team leads when needed. X
    Changing requirements and/or expectations are clearly communicated in a timely manner. X
    Agencies provide team members with timely decisions when requested. X
    Agencies respond to requests for clarification from the team members. X
    

Assessment Results

Category Score and Strategy
Please answer some questions to see the results