G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R NASA Case Study Initiative Using Case Studies to Drive Organizational Learning Dr. Ed Rogers, CKO GSFC Office of CKO October 16-17, 2008

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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. “We must learn all that we can from our experiences. We must learn how to share our experiences with each other in meaningful ways. No system will do that for us.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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.

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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’ “Cases are living documents intended for interaction. They are not dead, cold reports of facts with which no one can argue.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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 “The form the case takes is not as important as whether it causes learning to happen. Make the case form fit the function that is required.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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 “All experience has the potential for learning. The case should be focused on the requirement for learning and use appropriate content.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 7 Decision-Based Case Study

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 8 Decision-Based Case Study

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 9 Knowledge Sharing Case Study

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 10 Project Management Case Study

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 11 System Failure Case Study

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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 “NASA needs to be a conduit of case studies into the academic arena where future explorers will learn how to succeed.”

Goddard Learning Architecture

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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? “Cases are developed in a balance or compromise of topic, availability and person. They do not cover the whole mission but only tell a certain story.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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 “We write cases but the story is not ours. It is someone else’s story we are borrowing. We build cases on respect and trust, not authority.”

Office of the CKO N A S A G O D D A R D S P A C E F L I G H T C E N T E R 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 “Cases must be tested with internal audiences to find out how they work, what parts are important and what teaching points can be made.”