Date of Award

1-15-2010

Degree Type

Closed Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

Public Health

First Advisor

Sheryl Strasser - Chair

Second Advisor

John Steward

Abstract

Each day, approximately 25,000 GSU students, staff, and faculty are exposed to deadly hazards from fast-moving, high-volume traffic. Protecting Pedestrians on the Move (PPM), a collaboration of organizations in downtown Atlanta, has partnered with several groups to implement an action plan to improve pedestrian safety for Georgia State students and others in the downtown campus area. This study utilized the SWOT analysis evaluative tool to understand the team members’ and stakeholders’ perceptions of the project’s programming and implementation. Participants were asked to rate the extent to which the project’s goals were fulfilled, as well as to describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of five aspects of the project: people, program, effectiveness, resources, and growth. Seven participants completed the survey, and gave an overall rating of the completion of project objectives as 6.2 out of 10. Staff expertise and relationships were considered the greatest strengths, and PPM becoming a strong voice for pedestrian safety was viewed to be the primary opportunity of the PPM project. Overly ambitious goals and depleted funding were reported as the greatest weaknesses, and loss of objectives and no succession plan were considered the primary threats. Areas for future improvement included: finding a funding and personnel “home” for the PPM project, having a clear strategic plan, and developing plans for the future/sustainability. The insights gained from this SWOT analysis exercise provides direction for continued research and improved program implementation surrounding pedestrian safety issues.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/1200641

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