Two categories of pavement management system (PMS) analysis methods are proposed: reactive and generative. These terms are derived from two basic methods of thinking: event and systemic. Event thinking takes complex problems and breaks them down into a linear chain ofevents to make analysis more manageable. Event thinking focuses on detailed complexity and limits learning to event explanations. These characteristics are most useful for project analysis. Systemic thinking considers complex problems to have three levels of explanation: event (reactive), pattern of behavior (responsive), and systemic structure (generative). Systemic structure explanations are root cause explanations for the patterns of behavior observed. The reasons that root cause explanations are so important is that only they address patterns of behavior at a level at which behavior can be changed. These characteristics are most useful for network management. The standard structure for PMS conducts analysis as a linear chain of events whose products are not effective for managing large networks. The reason is that users cannot learn beyond the event explanation of their reactive analysis products. To be generative, PMS analysis methods must produce all three levels of explanations. This in turn makes it possible to manage networks by providing the information needed to control long-term funding levels and network condition, monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of proposed preservation programs and staff activities, and learn how economic efficiency can be improved by administrative and technical means. (A)
Abstract