Question

E-ZPass

In the 1990s, a task force was formed among executives of seven regional transportation agencies in the New York–New Jersey area. The mission of the task force was to investigate the feasibility and desirability of adopting electronic toll collection (ETC) for the interregional roadways of the area. Electronic toll collection is accomplished by providing commuters with small transceivers (tags) that emit a tuned radio signal. Receivers placed at tollbooths are able to receive the radio signal and identify the commuter associated with the particular signal. Commuters establish ETC accounts that are debited for each use of a toll road or facility, thus eliminating the need for the commuter to pay by cash or token.

Because the radio signal can be read from a car in motion, ETC can reduce traffic jams at toll plazas by allowing tag holders to pass through at moderate speeds. At the time the New York and New Jersey agencies were studying the service, electronic toll collection was already being used successfully in Texas and Louisiana. Even though several of the agencies had individually considered implementing ETC, they recognized that independent adoption would fall far short of the potential benefits achievable with an integrated interregional system. The task force was most interested in identifying the ideal configuration of service attributes for each agency’s commuters and determining how similar or different these configurations might be across agencies. The task force identified a lengthy list of attributes that was ultimately culled to six questions:

• How many accounts are necessary and what statements will be received? • How and where does one pay for E-ZPass?
• What lanes are available for use and how they are controlled?
• Is the tag transferable to other vehicles?

• What is the price of the tag and possible service charge?
• What are other possible uses for the E-ZPass tag (airport parking, gasoline purchases, and so forth)?

From a researcher’s perspective, it also seemed important to assess commuter demand for the service. However, the task force was not convinced that it needed a projection of demand, because it was committed to implementing ETC regardless of initial commuter acceptance. The task force considered its primary role to be investigating commuters’ preferences for how the service should be configured ideally.

Questions

1. Evaluate the problem-definition process. Has the problem been defined adequately so that a relevant decision statement can be written? (1 Mark)
2. What research questions might be tested? (1 Mark)
3. Write a complete research proposal for E-ZPass.

Answer 1

Answer:-

1)

Undoubtedly, actualizing ETC, paying little heed to beginning suburbanite acknowledgment is a very testing task. Along these lines, pondering the circumstance, the genuine issue lies with the execution of another computerization framework, for example, ETC into another circle, without leading an underlying projection of interest.

Likewise there has been a conversation of the conceivable negative pattern in money saving advantage investigation. This would be a hazardous move considering the fact that however it has been as of now effectively executed in Texas and Louisiana, commencement of an item without surveying worker request is a theoretical idea. Aside from that, since the usage of this venture totally relies upon the workers for working up ETC accounts and their preparation to join the handsets that are being given to them.

This is the genuine meaning of the issue. Be that as it may, for the situation given over, the issue has not been characterized sufficiently so as to appear at a significant choice explanation. The issue ought to be assumed from the circumstance given for the situation.

2)

Some of the important questions that needed to be tested are:

I. Are customers in dire need of the system?

ii. What might be the cost of implementing it?

iii. What are the additional benefits that the commuters derive from the new system?

iv. What are the other possible uses of the tag?

By testing these inquiries, we will get an understanding into the versatility of the undertaking.

3)

I would recommend utilizing a research design something similar to "An abbreviated version of a research proposal for the IRS". I would use this design because it is set up such that outlines the methodology of the research method step by step. Additionally it is set up such that makes the researcher ponder each stage of the process.

Moreover I am suggesting this method because the case and its task force are just taking into consideration what they feel would be best for the based on the feasibility and desirability of adopting and ETC for interregional roadways between NY and NJ. It isn't until the end of the case that the task force takes into consideration to investigate the commuter's preference for how service ought to be configured.

Current Situation: Seven regional transportation agencies in NY and NJ area to investigate the feasibility and desirability of adopting ETC for interregional roadways of the area.

Purpose of the Research: 1. Investigate the feasibility of placing transmitters at instrument stalls and furnishing commuters with a tag that holds a radio signal, each time the commuter goes through a cost the radio wave connects with the transmitter and debits the cost amount from the commuters account.2.Decrease traffic jams by eliminating the need for commuters to pay cash or token to get through a cost.

Research Design: An internal interview process is suggested to have the accompanying questions answered

Interview Questions for Internal Departments:

- How many accounts are necessary and what statements will be received?

- How and where does one pay for E-ZPass?

- What lanes are available for use and how are they controlled?

- Is the tag transferable to other vehicles?

- What is the price of the tag and possible service charges?

- What are other possible uses for the E-ZPass tag (airport parking, gasoline purchases, and so forth)?

Sample Design: Internal interviews for both NY and NJ affiliates

Data Gathering: Third Party consultants will lead the interviews

Data Processing: Interview questions and answers will be analyzed and drafted in a report

Report Preparation: Written report will be provided that entails the discoveries and feasibility of the project as well as identifying the ideal configuration and attributes for the two agencies commuters.

Budget and Timeline Schedule: It is obscure in this case.

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