Transport professionals face complex challenges in developing practical responses to meet community needs.
This book provides a systematic approach to analysing transport issues, establishing clear objectives, identifying solution options, assessing value for money, engaging stakeholders, and delivering successful outcomes.
You will learn:
How to analyse problems and clarify desired outcomes
A process for establishing strategy and choosing practical solutions
Assessing options for cost-effectiveness and value for money
Engaging partners and stakeholders for success
Approaches for effective project delivery and evaluation
With practical examples and tools, this book equips professionals with the key concepts and techniques to address current and emerging transport challenges. An essential guide for transport planners, engineers, and policy makers seeking to achieve the best transport solutions.
A practical guide for early-career transport professionals navigating the complexities of modern transport.
The book, part of the Smart Transport Strategy Guides series, aims to equip professionals with the critical skill of problem definition in the context of infrastructure planning, policy development, and decision-making advice. It emphasises that in a world of increasing complexity and rising expectations, accurately defining transport problems is crucial.
Key takeaways from the book include:
Understanding Transport Challenges: Transport demand is derived demand, meaning it’s a byproduct of other needs, and transport problems often stem from broader systems, not just surface-level symptoms. The book introduces seven common drivers of transport challenges, such as demographics, economics, and technology.
Building Better Problem Statements: A strong problem statement defines the “gap” between the current and desired state, clarifies the “downside” of inaction, and identifies the “stakeholder impact”.
Tools of the Trade: Learn foundational analysis techniques to dig deeper into causes rather than just addressing symptoms. These include: The 5 Whys; COR Analysis (Challenges, Opportunities, Risks); and Logic Mapping.
The Analyst’s Mindset: Emphasizes the importance of asking better questions to clarify assumptions, challenge biases, and reframe problems
Smart Assist: Shows how to effectively integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the problem-solving process as a critical thinking companion, rather than a replacement for human judgment. It provides an “AI Prompt Framework” and prompt chaining techniques for problem analysis.
Transport professionals today face a tidal wave of expectations: climate targets, safety mandates, population growth, and digital disruption. Governments issue bold policy visions, but frontline planners are often left asking: What exactly does this mean for our work tomorrow?
Set Strategic Direction is your practical guide to bridging the gap between high-level policy and on-the-ground action.
In this second guide of the Smart Transport Strategy Series, you will move beyond problem diagnosis to master the art of defining the destination. Written for early-career professionals and ambitious analysts, this book cuts through the buzzwords to provide a structured toolkit for setting objectives that are clear, measurable, and strategically aligned.
Inside, you will learn how to:
Decode Policy: Deconstruct dense government documents to extract the core strategic intent.
Craft Strong Objectives: Move beyond vague goals like “improve safety” to build SMART, outcome-focused targets.
Build Logic Models: Visualise the critical link between your inputs, activities, and the long-term impact you need to achieve.
Pressure-Test with AI: Use curated prompt packs to challenge assumptions and refine your strategy with artificial intelligence as your thinking partner.
Align Stakeholders: Communicate your direction in a way that builds trust and reduces friction.
Packed with visual frameworks, real-world templates, and actionable exercises, this is more than a textbook; it is a desk reference for the modern strategist. Stop guessing where you are going. Start leading the way.
