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Title: DECENTRALIZTION IN HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
Accession Number: 00200261
Record Type: Component
Abstract: DECENTRALIZATION OF MANAGEMENT IS HEARD WITH SUCH FREQUENCY THAT ONE GETS THE IMPRESSION THAT DECENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT IS THE PANACEA FOR THE CUMBERSOME ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOSTERED BY THE CONCENTRATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL AUTHORITIES IN ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC BUSINESS. IN THE BUSINESS WORLD SCORES OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES ARE TAKING A SERIOUS LOOK AT THIS NEWLY REDISCOVERED ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM, WHICH ACCORDING TO BUSINESS REPORTS WILL PERMIT STREAMLINING OF CENTRAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BECOME MASSIVE AND CUMBERSOME. IN SHORT, MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE HAS FAILED TO KEEP PACE WITH PHYSICAL GROWTH. DECENTRALIZED HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION AS DISCUSSED IN THIS PAPER MEANS MAXIMUM DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL IN THE ORGANIZATION. IT MEANS THAT OPERATIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY DISTRICT OFFICES WITH ALMOST COMPLETE AUTONOMY AND WITH AUTHORITY TO DO THE JOB ASSIGNED. FIELD OFFICES MUST BE GIVEN THE POWER OF DECISION. SUCH DELEGATION AND DECENTRALIZATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES REQUIRE, HOWEVER, NEW CONTROLS AND MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES. EFFICIENT HANDLING OF THE ACCELERATED HIGHWAY PROGRAM DEMANDS CHANGES IN PAST ADMINISTRATION CONCEPTS WHICH TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IMPORTANT BACKGROUND CHANGES AND TRENDS. IF ANYTHING IS CLEAR, IT IS THAT THE COMPLEXITIES OF MODERN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT, AND HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IN PARTICULAR, REQUIRE THE ABILITY TO GET THINGS DONE THROUGH OTHER PEOPLE. MANAGEMENT SKILLS OF THE HIGHEST ORDER ARE NEEDED TO MEET TODAYS EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES--TO CONVERT IDEAS INTO PLANS AND TO TRANSLATE PLANS INTO ACTION AND RESULTS. DECENTRALIZED ADMINISTRATION WITH CENTRALIZED MANAGEMENT CONTROLS FITS NEATLY INTO THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE PATTERN. IT ELIMINATES THE BIG BOTTLENECK, DUPLICATION OF ENGINEERING WORK, AND FORCES ENGINEERING DECISIONS TO BE MADE AT LOWER LEVELS--IMPORTANT STEPS IN EFFECTIVE USE OF ENGINEERING MANPOWER. /AUTHOR/
Supplemental Notes: No. 200, pp 6-14, 3FIG, 5REF. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Monograph Title: Monograph Accession #: 01410594
Authors: Haas, W LPublication Date: 1958
Serial: Media Type: Digital/other
TRT Terms: Uncontrolled Terms: Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Sep 12 1994 12:00AM
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