Awakening One Creative Genius at a Time…a story about NASA Langley Research Center

& the Ci guy

What’s The Context?

We have moved from the Information Age (a time of knowledge workers)to the Conceptual Age (a time of creators and empathizers).

This means that creativity has become the key differentiator for businesses, and that the “right brain” talents of design, story, empathy, play and meaning are the key strengths for an individual to developed.

Reference: Pink, D. H. A whole new mind: moving from the information age to the conceptual age. New York: Riverhead Books, 2005.

Creativity Matters More Than Ever

The world has and is changing

Creativity is stifled in the research to development environment resulting in less innovation

Informed risk-taking is constrained due to an aversion to failure Lack of open environments where creativity & ideas are able to thrive Not enough creativity courses offered within the Agency Not using all possible resources due to lack of creative problem solving/thinking

and emphasis on status quo limiting employee input & freedom Not enough diversity and inclusion of “all” employees in innovation type training

and problem solving activities, leaving out a large percentage of the population. Limited grasp of the potential we hold if we use “all” to solve problems versus a “special” few.

Lack of a common understand of Creativity & its crucial role in Innovation Lack of recognition that we are in the “Conceptual Age” where human ingenuity

and people’s ideas translate into breakthrough technologies and social improvements that are essential to organizational survival. Large over-controlling hierarchies will soon be a thing of the past. Passion and trust need to drive innovation.

What strategic gap/problem is the LaRC initiative trying to solve?

7

NASA Langley’s Mission SuccessDeliver on Today’s Commitments and Prepare for Tomorrow’s Opportunities

Customer RelationsCustomer RelationsTechnical

Excellence Efficient OperationsEfficient Operations

Ensure an Agile, Adaptable and Responsive Langley

(Wycoff/Seaton)

Create theNASA Langley of 2050

(Harris/Finelli )

Work with our Customers to define and solve compelling national challenges

(Vann/Crisp)

Deliver Systems Solutions to Enable NASA’s Missions

(Kumar/Marlowe)

Foster Continuous Learning, Exploratory Thinking and

Informed Risk-taking(Antcliff/Watson)

As of 9-28-2010

•Deploy/Institutionalize Space Technology and Exploration Planning team•Understand & Influence National Plans and Program content relevant to NASA• Develop systematic approach for documenting and responding to External Customer Feedback

•Provide training in Critical Thinking and Creative Problem Solving•Foster Leadership Excellence (Phase 1: Mid-level leadership training)•Enhance Engineering Development practices through innovative approaches and methods•Benchmark Risk-taking Successes and Apply Best Practices

• Institute a process for assessment of ideas at technology and systems levels

• Develop Center Capability & Technology Roadmaps• Center Grand Challenges/RTCs

• Incentivize Systems-level Innovations

•Design and Implement Innovation Network •Identify opportunities for high impact Efficiency improvements (Prioritize and Implement follow on initiatives)

. Design and Implement the “LaRC of 2050”Transformation Plan

-Phase 1: Design an integrated concept for the “LaRC of 2050”

-Phase 2: Develop and Implement the “LaRC of 2050” Transformation Plan • People• Processes• Tools• Facilities ( includes New Town

phase 4-5 and out)

What was the Approach?

Someone who believes they can do something

has a lot better chance of doing it.

"When we speak of “a Genius” it puts “those people” on a pedestal too high for others

to comprehend climbing themselves.When we teach “genius” as something

that occurs due to persistence and passion it becomes an attainable goal

we can all achieve.” – Karen Freidt

• The core members of the C&I Team were already a part of the center’s Navigation Center– As word spread about the training initiative other center employees self selected to participate

• The C&I Team was to : Become experts in Creativity & Innovation– Read the literature/research on creativity– Benchmark with other organizations (PLAY)– Enlist guidance from other creativity experts inside/outside of NASA– Get involved with C&I Online Groups thru Yammer and other social media– Enlist other team members with skills sets in instructing adult learners

• The intent was: Create our own courses & teach our coworkers the following:– We are all creative, we can all be more creative– The difference between creativity & innovation– Why creativity and why now– Understanding & adapting a creative mindset– The creative process & tools to expand possibilities

• The resulting first course offering was “Enhancing Your Creative Genius”

Creativity & Innovation (C&I) Team

The Goal: To foster continuous learning, exploratory thinking & informed risk-taking at the center

The Creative Mindset

The 5 I’s

There are variations on the creative process. This is just one interpretation.

Creativity Class OutlineDAY ONE• Introduction• Lecture – Why this course now? • Who is it for? • What is Creativity? • Define Creativity - What we have found• Describe difference between Creativity & Innovation• Myths • Characteristics of a creative person• Neurological• Introduction to Brainstorming• Mindset• What is a creative mindset introduction?

DAY TWO• Introduce Creativity Process • Sustainability

The EYCG course is a two day off-site training experience. The training includes a field visit to experience a different environment.

When? Courses are available now. Sign up on SATERN.

EYCG Statistics• The first pilot class was held on February 2-3, 2010.

• Six pilot classes were held between February and August of 2010.

• The first “live” class was held on October 20-21, 2010.

• Seventeen “live” classes have been held to-date.

• Two of the seventeen classes were taught at NASA GRC.

• A total 234 people have attended the EYCG .

• 31 people from outside of NASA have attended.

• We have conducted the class in 12 locations around the Hampton Roads area.

Making Connections!

“I would like to thank you for all you have done in bringing your creativity course to Glenn.

It was a truly excellent course and I have received a number of comments from the participants on how much they enjoyed the course.

You have done an outstanding job in developing an engaging and highly relevant course in the important area of enhancing creativity, and I am very happy you are willing to share it with us.”

James J. ZakrajsekGlenn Research Center, Branch Chief, Tribology & Mechanical Components Branch Structures & Materials Division

C&I Partners from Museums & the Arts

•Charles Taylor Art Museum, Hampton, VA•Downing Gross, Newport News, VA•The New American Theatre, Hampton, VA

•Hampton History Museum, Hampton, VA•Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA•Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA

C&I Partners from Government, Non-Profit and Industry

•Northrop Grumman, Newport News, VA•International Communications Group, Newport News, VA•Continental Automotive, Newport News, VA

•Jefferson Lab, Newport News, VA•NIA, Hampton, VA•Hampton Fire station #9, Hampton, VA•NASA APPEL, NASA HQ, D.C.•Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH•Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NC•Members of City Counsel, Poquoson, VA•Spratley Gifted School, Hampton, VA •Steam Plant, Hampton, VA

C&I Experts as Partners• Greg Fraley, Creativity and Innovation Expert

– Wrote the CPS book – Jack’s Notebook

• John Sturrock – APPEL Instructor– Innovative Design for Engineering Applications (IDEA)

• Jennifer Spear, Creativity Expert– Clean Slate Strategies, Canada

• Ron Fulbright, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC

– TRIZ Instructor

• Marci Segal, Creativity Expert– Creativity Land Inc., Canada

What do they think?

Tammy FlynnCity of Hampton Manager for Marketing Inc., Innovation & Collaboration

Dacia Hollis, City of Hampton, Information Technologist for Marketing Inc., Innovation & Collaboration

Where Are We Going?

What’s next?• Working with leaders on KEYS Assessment Results to ensure we

continue to make progress

• New Courses in 2012 (Putting Your Ideas in Writing, Innovation Simulation, Creative Problem Solving & Innovation, and Moving Your Ideas Forward)

• Working on bringing in more resources externally to help with Center Management &Operation funding

• Working with Glenn Research Center to train employees to teach the course

• Interest from Headquarters Chief Technologist Office, Goddard, Stennis & Kennedy.

• Speaking engagement at the upcoming Annual Front End of Innovation Conference in Florida in May

• Working on a collaborative Hampton Roads Creativity & Innovation Conference for 2012-2013

• Space Act Agreement in works with City of Hampton

KEYS® Assessing the Climate for Creativity – A Footnote

• The KEYS® is a scientifically derived assessment used by organizations and work groups who want to assess employees’ perceptions of their work environment for creativity and innovation.

• The KEYS® taps into employee’s perceptions of their work environment at a particular “snapshot” in time.

• This first administration of the KEYS® provides a center baseline – LaRC launched the KEYS® on July 12, 2011.– All civil servants and on-site Contractors voluntarily participated .– Responses will help identify work environment factors which may be promoting

creativity as well as those that don’t. • The C&I Team worked with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) on

this effort.• The CCL extensive database allows comparisons with other organizations

the have taken KEYS®.• The KEYS® data indicates the current work environment at NASA LaRC

supports creativity and innovation.

NASA willpush the human race forward faster if we are all awake and aware.

We are awakeningmore geniuses.

“It is easier to push a car forward

when the people that should be helping aren’t sleeping inside.” – Karen Freidt

Creativity & Innovation Design TeamCORE TEAM

Sponsor - Rich AntcliffKaren Freidt, LeadPatricia PahlavaniDan CherryCharlie DuntonSteve AlterDonna Speller Turner Pam PayneMonica BarnesKaren TamingerSusanne WaltzGayle BurtonSusan CooperWJ RogersMyisha Tucker Gregory HajosBrian LuotoDonna MizellKim KeithBill Lamarsh

EXTRAORDINARY SUPPORTPJ CormierDonna PhillipsLaurie JohansenWade MickleyJeff PickeringVince WhitfieldJohn Bailey  John Kahler

A special thanks to other leaders who continue to support the team’s efforts regularly: Charlie Harris, Dennis Bushnell, Steve Craft, & Marty Waszak

And a special thanks to the leaders who have come to speak in the courses too!!!

We also are grateful for our legal support. The Office of Chief Counsel has been wonderful.