System Needs Assessment (26)

Description:

After RUC legislation has passed, the state performs a system needs assessment to determine the full list of needs of the system for implementation. This assessment is based on the passed legislation as well as any system design decisions made in earlier research. Performing the assessment means assembling a list of use cases or functions that the system should be able to complete. The process does not include anything about how the system should operate or complete the functions. There may be separate state and vendor use cases/functions, or they may be the same—there is no need to decide who performs specific tasks at this point, but a system needs assessment should cover all uses. If separate systems are used for the types of vehicles included in the enabling legislation (heavy-duty vs. passenger vehicles), then a system needs assessment will need to be completed for each system.

Details:

The lead and/or implementing RUC agency thoroughly documents system use cases. Use cases should be documented following a standard systems engineering process. The full list of use cases should include the end-user or RUC payer perspective as well as the state perspective. Use cases from the end-user or RUC payer perspective may include enrolling, driving, and disenrolling in a program or buying and selling new and used vehicles. Use cases from the state perspective may include determining whether all mandated vehicles enrolled, determining enforcement systems, or determining reporting methods.

Primary Use:

Begin formal systems engineering process by documenting how the system will be used.

Best Practices/Lessons Learned:

  • Thoroughly document use cases but focus on the most common use cases. Use cases should not be so esoteric that they serve just one or two people.
  • Distinguish state and vendor use cases, if known and relevant.

State Government Context and Assumptions:

The lead and/or implementing RUC agency thoroughly documents system use cases. Use cases are formulated based on the law as passed and any system design decisions made in earlier research. This task begins shortly after the law is passed and is updated as new use cases emerge.