SYSTAN has undertaken a wide range of telephone interviews, mail-out surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and data analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of private and government programs, suggest directions for proposed marketing efforts, and assess the likelihood that a new proposal or product will achieve the desired objectives. REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS DMV Marketplace Survey. On two separate occasions, documented public perceptions of the California Department of Motor Vehicles' (DMVs') operations through a series of statewide focus groups and telephone interviews. Recommended improvements in phone service, office procedures, service hours, and public information programs. (Client: California DMV) Marketing of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Programs. Conducted series of origin/destination studies, commuter surveys, focus group discussions, and a marketing campaign designed to increase ride sharing and the usage of HOV lanes and Park-and-Ride Lots in congested corridors within the San Francisco Bay Area. (Client: CALTRANS) Public Information Campaign Effectiveness. Evaluated the effectiveness of public information campaigns designed to reduce drunk driving. The evaluations determined who was reached by the campaign, how well they understood the campaign messages, what effect the campaign had on driver behavior, and which of the various campaign elements were most effective. (Client: California Highway Patrol) Contract Services in California Transit. SYSTAN surveyed over 300 California transit operators to document and assess the use of contracting arrangements to obtain goods and services from the private sector. (Client: CALTRANS) Competition and Excellence in Transit. SYSTAN conducted a study patterned after the work of Peters and Waterman (In Search of Excellence) to identify the characteristics of superior transit agencies. Superiority was defined as the ability to control costs in the face of funding and patronage changes. Twelve characteristics of excellent agencies were postulated for subsequent research. (Client: Small Business Innovation Research Program) email: systan@systan.com