1. David M. Lengyel
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
Risk & Knowledge Management Officer
PM Challenge 2011

2. Sous Chef’s in very serious
portrait at Johnson Space
Center 2010

3. ESMD - KCT KNOWLEDGE
CAPTURE & TRANSFER
• A life-cycle knowledge management approach called KCT was developed
and implemented within the NASA Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate
• KCT activities include a blend of web-based technology and face-to-face
(FTF) activities
• Activities were implemented using a four-part approach
– Start-Up activities set the stage for program/project success.
– Milestone-based activities are tailored to address program/project
milestone (e.g., PRR, PDR, CDR, ORR) needs.
– Sustaining activities are important to implement anytime throughout the
program/project life-cycle.
– Close-out / Transition activities are critical for codification of lessons
learned at project close-out or transition to the next phase or a follow-on
activity
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4. KCT Capture Matrix
Source Method  Telephone Laptop KBR Video
Interviews Brainstorming Video Nugget
Program Mgr X X
Sys Eng & Integration X
IPT Lead X X
IPT Members X
Tech Authority
X X
(Eng/SMA)
Subject Matter
Experts
X X X
Senior Managers X
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5. KCT Transfer Matrix
Tx Method Mode  Web-Based Face to Face Codification
Knowledge-Based Risks (KBRs)
X X
(video)
Video Nuggets (VNs) X
Interactive Cafes X
Knowledge Sharing Forums X
Case Studies X X X
Wikis X
Synthesis Reports X
Riskapedia X
Peer Assists X
Key Personnel Transfer X
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6. Background
• Over the last five years, ESMD has used several means of
structured discussion and modeling techniques for innovation
including, TRIZ, Process 2.0 and Knowledge Cafes
• Knowledge Cafes have proven to be an effective technique not
only to innovate but also to socialize ideas within a large group to
create buy-in to move forward with those ideas
• It is said that innovation takes place at interfaces between
disciplines. A key feature of Café technique is the discussion that
ensues between experts from different technical domains as they
move from one table (and topic) to another.
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7. • Engages ALL Participants In
•
Contributing Ideas Through Discussion
Accomplished Social Networking
Café “BIG IDEAS”
• Develops TEAMWORK
• Surfaces Collective Knowledge Of A
Group
• Creates A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
• Therapeutic (Individuals Want Their
Views Considered)
• A Welcome Departure From
POWERPOINT Presentations
• Leads To TANGIBLE OUTCOMES In The
Form Of Better Decisions
• Fun…!
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8. Café Outcomes
• A synthesized list of ideas on each topic area
• A deeper personal understanding of your own ideas / issues
/ problems
• A deeper understanding of others’ views on ideas / issues /
problems
• Innovative ideas (designs, processes, decision paths, etc.)
• A well-socialized and synthesized path forward for making
decisions
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9. Café Resource Requirements
• A group of people with a COMMON INTEREST or PROBLEM to solve
• Main facilitator or MATRE DE
• Small group facilitators or SOUS CHEFS
• A large room
• Enough Tables to accommodate topic areas (no more than 8 preferred)
• Chairs to accommodate 5 people per table
• Ambience: Table clothes, CHEF HATS, REFRESHMENTS, MUSIC, etc.
• Paper, pens, pencils
• Whiteboard, butcher block paper or projector / PC – for final discussion
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10. How Do You Run a Café?
Cafes can be run in several variants – ESMD| achieved success with the
following method:
• The café runs from 4-10 hours total (depends on number of topics)
• Works best with 30-40 people
• Maitre-d’ introduces the overall theme / topics and explains the process
• Large group breaks into small group discussions at tables
• Sous chefs facilitate table discussions
• Individuals rotate among tables after 30-40 minutes
• Small group discussions end after all tables are visited by individuals
• Sous chefs synthesize discussions across all groups (usually overnight)
• Sous chefs facilitate discussion across large group on day 2
• Maitre-d’ concludes large group discussion with PATH FORWARD
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11. Notional Café Sous Chef Sous Chef
Table-X Table-X
Layout Topic-Y Topic-Y
Participants
Sous Chef Sous Chef
Maitre d’
Table-X Table-X
Participants shift tables (and topics) Topic-Y
Topic-Y
at pre-determined intervals.
Sous Chefs reamins at individual
tables to aggregate knowledge Sous Chef Sous Chef
capture.
Table-X
Table-X
Topic-Y
Topic-Y
Maitre d’ tracks time and manages
transitions
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12. Café Documentation
• Starts with a WELL CONSTRUCTED
MENU
• Each topic area should receive a dry run
• Sous Chefs or Stenographers document
table discussions
• Sous Chefs synthesize table
discussions for large group discussion
• Ends with a SYNTHESIZED /
PRIORITIZED LIST of outcomes
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13. Café Menu Example
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14. Innovation at NASA is a Necessity – not an option!
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