THE ROLE OF VALUE ALIGNMENT IN COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE: A CASE STUDY OF A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT Title of Document: THE ROLE OF VALUE ALIGNMENT IN COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE: A CASE STUDY OF A METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.

Margaret Chizuko Kaii-Ziegler, PhD, 2023

Directed By: Dr. Lauren Hamilton Edwards, Graduate Program Director Associate Professor School of Public Policy The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is federally mandated to address the breakdown in regional transportation planning by managing the use of federal dollars for transportation projects within metropolitan statistical areas. The MPO is uniquely situated to transform regional transportation policy, yet important questions related to its effectiveness in decision-making and regional governance remain unpursued and unanswered. MPOs throughout the United States are distinctly diverse in size, structure, and authority making them very difficult to generalize.This dissertation focuses on one MPO, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) and seeks to explain how value alignment influences the collaborative process, the implications to regional transportation planning, and the need for a fundamental change in how organizational performance is evaluated. A grounded theory methodology is used to analyze the relationships within the MPO, identifying differences and similarities in values providing insight into the effectiveness of the organization. This dissertation adds to the existing body of knowledge by providing insight into key factors contributing to an externally directed governance regime. Previous studies have indicated that evaluative practices on policy implementation overlook the influences of values on the effectiveness of the organization or network. This study builds upon previous frameworks on management and the collaborative process. It attempts to address the shortcomings raised by previous studies on the MPO and bridges a gap in the literature between performance evaluation through outcomes and process. The findings of this study have direct implications for how goals are set, and data are collected and interpreted in evaluating the performance of an interorganizational government network. Understanding the motivating factors (values) of the different parties allows for more informed decisions on the development of the evaluative processes and the setting of strategic goals. Identifying where the interests and objectives of the key stakeholders reside allows for a more directed and informed planning process. Using targeted data collection specifically to improve policy development through an iterative process will better inform policymakers and ultimately improve policy development.