Untitled Document

ITD goes Ivy League

Harvard. Few names are as synonymous with achievement and excellence. So, it was noteworthy when Harvard recently interviewed Idaho Transportation Department Brian Ness for information on the agency’s innovation program.

For an hour, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government talked with the Director about the origins and logistics of the program, the organizational changes required to be successful, and the ability to replicate the program elsewhere in government to improve efficiencies and performance.

ITD’s employee-driven program solicits improvements from employees statewide.

“The program can easily be copied by other organizations. The key is to build trust with employees, and take the cap off the flow of ideas,” Ness told two representatives of the Harvard Kennedy School. “The innovation program is very successful, and the credit goes to our 1,600 employees."

After interviewing Ness April 12, Harvard was impressed. “We definitely think there's at least one article we could write about your organization, perhaps more,” said Jessica Engelman, editor of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Government Innovation Network newsletter. Engleman said an article would likely be published after June, once the university slows down a bit for the summer.

Most recent figures for the ITD Innovation program, since inception (2014):

- 935 ideas
- 600 innovations
- $4.7 million in savings/efficiencies
- 148,000 hours saved
- 240 customer-service improvements

The savings in time and money are being used to maintain roads and bridges and provide better customer service.

Ness was recently named chairman of the Special Committee on Research & Innovation from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and won the 2016 Navigator Award from Route Fifty for his innovative approach. ITD was also named a finalist for Idaho Innovative Company of the Year, the first public-service state agency to ever be named to the final three.