NASA Case Study Initiative Using Case Studies to Drive Organizational Learning

1. NASA Case Study Initiative Using Case Studies to Drive Organizational Learning Dr. Ed Rogers, CKO GSFC Office of CKO October 16-17, 2008

2. Objectives of Case Learning Create the opportunity and ability for individuals to learn experiential lessons Deliver Lessons from Experiences (successes and failures) into the workforce for application on current missions Articulate and document NASA lessons from the experience of our missions for reference by policy, standards and procedures.

3. Why Case Studies? Case studies are a tool to disseminate the experience, wisdom, and values that are embedded in the stories of NASA missions to those who lead and manage current and future missions.

4. Ideal Case Design Principles Based on current and recent project experiences of NASA missions Create a learning opportunity for discussion and debate that sharpens thinking Involve participation of a key protagonist to assist in an interactive facilitated discussion Have teaching notes and an accompanying epilogue of �what happened� to provide background and some closure Are developed from a on-going relationship with stakeholders; not produced as a �report�

5. Different Types of Cases Short illustration of a point (5 min.) Brief discussion of story (15 min.) History or lessons learned (30 min.) Debate on decision making (60 min.) Role play, simulation or game (2+ hr.) Self-taught multi-media (self paced) Knowledge-based Risk Management Story of Risk Mitigation used for reference

6. Case Content Examples Well known disasters or successes Close calls, incidents & lucky outcomes Design decisions and consequences Safety reminders and safe stories Lessons learned: technical and project Personal insights: leadership; mgmt. You make the call: decision-making skill

12. End Use of Cases Goddard Road to Mission Success Goddard Knowledge Sharing Workshops NASA Training Programs (APPEL) ASK Magazine Interactive Articles PMChallenge Conference Sessions Industry Training Programs Academic Courses Engineering Management Research

13. Goddard Learning Architecture Created a picture to tell the story The six practices 3 at the project level 3 at the center level How they work together, why it makes sense, where people fit in. I could tell my approach in 60 seconds. Used this diagram for a year to tell my story. Because that�s all I had many times. People have strong intuitive assumptions about how they will make things efficient. Some things are not meant to be efficient in life: market places, the IRS, and democracy. Created a picture to tell the story The six practices 3 at the project level 3 at the center level How they work together, why it makes sense, where people fit in. I could tell my approach in 60 seconds. Used this diagram for a year to tell my story. Because that�s all I had many times. People have strong intuitive assumptions about how they will make things efficient. Some things are not meant to be efficient in life: market places, the IRS, and democracy.

14. Case Development Process 1 Selection of Target Case from Combination of Current topic that needs to be addressed Experience or example presents itself Person willing to articulate and tell story Define the parameters of the story Events to be included (and what�s not included) Persons to be included: Whose story is it? Teaching points to be emphasized: So What?

15. Case Development Process 2 Gather background info on mission Public information as much as possible Project documents; briefings; reports (MIBs) Interview key players to get their story Several key protagonists Several sides (PM; Contractor; other Center etc) Re-evaluate story-lines with topics Choose what can be illustrated by case Choose what people are willing to tell now Draft case into narrative Include background to mission (educational) Illustrate with diagrams, charts, pictures

16. Case Development Process 3 Review draft with stakeholders Edit and finalize copy and images Format into standard case layout Retain ALL notes and input (what�s cut) Test case with local audience In-house training, team retreat or focus group Revise as necessary Have Case Writer attend first use of case Produce Teaching Note and Epilogue Use feedback from first use Use insights of case writer from observation Publish in Case Library Ready for Application