Knowledge Sharing:Some Myths, Ideas,

and a little IT

Jean E. EngleChief Knowledge Officer

Johnson Space Center

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Teamwork – Key to a Successful Space ProgramTeamwork – Key to a Successful Space ProgramA Little History of NASAA Little History of NASA

Teamwork – Key to a Successful Space Program

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… and JSC… and JSC

• JSC manages the development, testing, production and delivery of all U.S. human spacecraft and all human spacecraft-related functions.

• Home of the Astronaut Corps and Mission Control• Workforce consists of ~3000 civil servants and ~14,000 contractors

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Major Programs – Space ShuttleMajor Programs – Space Shuttle

• Fly the Shuttle safely until retirement in 2010• Essential for the core completion of the ISS• One last Hubble Telescope repair mission

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Major Programs – ISSMajor Programs – ISS

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Major Programs – ConstellationMajor Programs – Constellation

• Bring a new Crew Exploration Vehicle into service in 2015 to replace the Shuttle Program.

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Defining Knowledge SharingDefining Knowledge Sharing

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A Few MythsWith Acknowledgement to Dr. Ed Rogers – GSFC CKO*

A Few MythsWith Acknowledgement to Dr. Ed Rogers – GSFC CKO*

10. Culture change can be mandated from the top

11. Collaboration effort can be “purchased” or “sharing be rewarded”

12. KM efforts can be outsourced

13. Anybody (who isn’t busy) can do KM

14. KM can be solved by buying the right software

15. KM can be independent of the business process

16. Communities of practice can be established by the top

17. KM is about centralizing knowledge content to use it more efficiently

18. KM is really about databases

19. KM is an IT function and should be given to the CIO

*Some of these myths are adapted from a “Top Ten Mistakes of CoP’s” list produced by John Hickok, director, Defense Acquisition University (DAU), knowledge management.

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A Different ApproachA Different Approach

Benchmarking (a studied approach) Various entities inside/outside Government

and Aerospace industry Consortium studies with the American

Productivity and Quality Center (APQC) Colleague at other NASA Center

Center-wide Knowledge Management maturity assessment

Provided insight into how much knowledge sharing was occurring and where

Identified strengths and gaps/barriers

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A Different ApproachA Different Approach

The following concepts evolved: Leadership – modeled behavior Local Learning – encourage Codify -- when appropriate Change management – takes time

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A Few Ideas -- PeopleA Few Ideas -- People

Generational differences (average age is around 45 years)

What is on incoming undergrads minds?Learning curve Technology Gap Engage Younger Employees

More on their perspective…

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A Few More Ideas -- TechnologyA Few More Ideas -- Technology

Google – installed but… Led to identifying repositories,

beginning with websitesWhich is leading towards identifying

usage of websites Which will lead towards document

and content management strategies Supported by stronger taxonomies

and metadata structures

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A Few More Ideas – ProcessA Few More Ideas – Process

Social networkingPause and Learn Integrate Risk Management with

Knowledge Management Information lifecycle managementTacit knowledge capture

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A Few More Ideas – People/Technology/Process

A Few More Ideas – People/Technology/Process

Web-enabled High Performance Teams

Knowledge Sharing ForumsCase Studies – teaching by providing

context to a storyWeb 2.0 technologies – enabler for

infusion, collaboration, and sharing

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