Ares 1-X Knowledge Share Wiki poster. Image courtesy of Dave Lengyel.
June 14, 2011 Vol. 4, Issue 4
The Exploration Systems Mission Directorate’s Ares I-X knowledge capture initiative represents a comprehensive effort to optimize learning from a complex project.
Ares 1-X Knowledge Share Wiki poster.
Image courtesy of Dave Lengyel.
In the spring of 2009, the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD) Integrated Risk and Knowledge Management (IRKM) organization initiated a twelve-month collaboration with the Ares I-X project management and project team members to capture and document process-oriented systems engineering and engineering management stories and lessons learned. This effort serves as a model for future knowledge capture efforts involving the Constellation, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station programs.
The effort employed a series of rules, disciplined structures, and consistent processes that enabled efficient and effective knowledge capture and transfer (KCT). One distinguishing characteristic of this approach is its emphasis on contextually rich narrative – short stories or vignettes rather than bulleted PowerPoint slides or lessons learned database records. Another key success factor was use of a consistent framework for analysis. The knowledge capture effort employed oral interviews, structured video interviews, and integrated product team (IPT) discussions and brainstorming. The acquired information was organized, analyzed, and synthesized into a summary knowledge capture report. Other bundled “knowledge artifacts” included: project plans, technical review documentation, flight test reports, NASA Engineering & Safety Center (NESC) reports, risk records, external reviews, social media links, news articles as well as Ares I-X project and internal IPT generated lessons learned documents.
Ares I-X Video Dashboard.
Image courtesy of Dave Lengyel.
The transfer element of the process involved both face-to-face knowledge sharing events as well as web-based access through the Integrated Collaborative Environment (ICE) domain within the ESMD wiki environment. The Ares I-X Knowledge Share Wiki features a video dashboard with “talking heads” of all Ares I-X IPT managers and team members; engineering and safety & mission assurance technical authorities; launch control team members; and senior leadership. Each video provides a discussion of best practices, lessons learned, cautionary notes, and suggested approaches for future projects. Other video content includes Knowledge-Based Risks (KBRs) – structured interviews with subject matter experts addressing specific technical risks encountered in the Ares I-X project—examples include loads and environments, parachute test maturity, thrust oscillation, flight termination system, and heritage software. The document library includes access to the numerous bundled knowledge artifacts previously described. The wiki also contains a directory with Ares I-X points-of-contact to enable follow-up discussions with content providers and subject matter experts. The wiki also provides a variety of methods to easily access information including search, structured browsing, index, and tag clouds. Other features include a moderated drop-box providing the means for ICE users to post additional content related to the Ares I-X project.
For further information about the Ares I-X knowledge capture initiative, please contact Dave Lengyel, ESMD Risk and Knowledge Management Officer, at 202-358-0391 or dlengyel@hq.nasa.gov.
Visit the Ares I-X Knowledge Share Wiki. (NASA only Requires ICE Access.)
