Program Research and Development Agenda (63)
Description:
Because RUC is still emerging, much about how it can be best implemented remains to be learned. As part of the growth of the RUC program, the lead and implementing RUC agencies determine what needs to be researched and start the research. This may begin with a gap analysis—determining what is unknown and what can be improved. This research may support and guide program expansion. It may involve research in many areas—technology, economic/policy, user experience, etc.
Details:
To determine research needs, this building block starts with a gap analysis, which should be revisited at least once a year. Research should start by looking for any information urgently needed to keep the program running. If there are no such urgent needs, perform the research that seems most likely to provide the greatest value—that is, the greatest return on research funds and time.
Primary Use:
Plan and execute research and development to improve the program.
Best Practices/Lessons Learned:
- Monitor activities in other states, but realize that policy and operations will need to be customized for each state. Operational activities may require additional research to carry over to other states.
- Leadership should keep a list of what needs to be learned and use this list to develop potential research topics. There may be some unknowns for which no good research approach is available, but research in many areas should be feasible.
- Have a specific budget for research and development.
- Work with multi-state consortia, but be willing to perform research alone when needed.
- Look for grants from the federal government and other sources to fund research.
State Government Context and Assumptions:
This task should be completed by the lead and/or implementing RUC agencies.