MERLIN Project Mission and Guiding Principles

Mission

• The Motor Vehicle Division's (MVD) mission is to provide licensing, registration and regulation of drivers and motor vehicles for the benefit of Montanans.
• We emphasize customer service and safety, as well as efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Our authority is provided for in Montana Codes Annotated, Title 61.

Business Vision

Our vision for the MERLIN Project is to:

• Provide efficient interagency operations and improved services to the citizens of Montana.
• Continue to implement business improvements by systematically adopting business principles that benefit our stakeholders and Montanans.
• Treat Montana State Government as a single enterprise, sharing knowledge and information openly.

Guiding Principles

• We will provide consistent, quality customer service. Industry standards for customer satisfaction will be met or exceeded.
• We value the counties and other partners in this process. MVD will provide continuing opportunities for active, meaningful participation.
• We will ensure minimal financial impact to Montana taxpayers. Increases to the MVD budget will not be required as a result of changes brought about by this project. Additional user fees will result only when substantial value is added.
• We do intend to encourage greater financial contributions from those who will benefit directly from new processes. We expect to see a measurable shift in responsibility from state taxpayers to those businesses that realize substantial direct benefits.
• Montana's citizens, our employees and our business partners will be kept informed and knowledgeable so they can be well-informed participants. Formal communications and training plans will be followed and a communications specialist is employed to implement the plans and monitor results.
• To improve efficiency we will capture and validate driver and motor vehicle information as early in the process as possible.
• We intend to take advantage of what's been learned in industry and in other states and countries. We will actively seek proven, effective solutions, and apply them wherever it makes sense. Further, we will make sure our processes are regularly enhanced through a formal Continuous Improvement Program.
• While the focus of this project is not on technological changes, technology will be used to support improvements in business processes whenever that's appropriate and feasible.
• In order to ease the burden of storing, accessing and updating data, and to provide a one-stop source for motor vehicle and driver information, we intend to establish a single source for these records. We will also make full use of technology so that whenever possible primary data resides in one place, rather than many.
• Ease of use is important. We intend to devise a system that allows people to conduct their business via computer whenever that's practical and feasible. We'll ensure Montana's objectives for expansion of "e-government" services are met.
• Easy access will be facilitated for those who need information and are authorized to use it. At the same time, we will ensure data integrity, security and confidentiality are strictly maintained.