Keeping What You Paid For—Retaining Essential Consultant-Developed Knowledge Within DOTs

TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Research Report 867: Keeping What You Paid For—Retaining Essential Consultant-Developed Knowledge Within DOTs presents guidance on the use of knowledge capture and active learning to ensure that essential, mission-critical knowledge is maintained within the agency when a contractor’s work is finished. Knowledge capture is the process of transforming human knowledge into codified information (for example, through documentation of interviews with key contractor personnel) and making the information available to others. Active learning occurs when DOT staff work directly with contractors or consultants. The report covers knowledge capture and active learning for system management, emergency response, and other critical components of a transportation agency's mission.

Accompanying the report is NCHRP Web-Only Document 238: Developing the Guide to Retaining Essential Consultant-Developed Knowledge Within DOTs documents the methodology used to develop NCHRP Research Report 867. The document also provides key findings of the project and case studies used to create the guidance document.