The Back Page
Knowledge Management at Aerospace
Susan Braun, Manager, Lauritsen Library Research Services
The Aerospace Corporation's mission is to be the leading architect of the U.S. national security space program and a principal technical resource for programs of national significance. To support that mission, Aerospace employs effective knowledge management techniques to deliver, capture, and share information. While knowledge retention can be guided by corporate process and procedure, the quality of learning depends on employee commitment. Aerospace is fortunate to have people who are enthusiastic about their areas of expertise and inspired by the corporate culture to work closely with their colleagues. Some of the major tools of knowledge management at Aerospace are presented here.
Knowledge Management Office
Knowledge management is a systematic method to assist the corporation in the production, sharing, and retention of vital information. The Knowledge Management Office is accountable for developing a detailed plan to guide these processes at the corporation. The intent is to explore available technologies and promote a knowledge-sharing culture at Aerospace. The office also provides information on emerging concepts that have potential to add knowledge management benefits to the corporation. Corporate initiatives for improving collaboration and stewardship to retain knowledge are managed by staff within the Knowledge Management Office.
Technical Reports System
The Technical Reports System provides the means for delivering data to support national security space customers. It is an important element of corporate memory by which the corporation prepares, numbers, reviews, distributes, and archives technical information. Reports provide the permanent record of the corporation's effort and usually constitute the only tangible end product. Such documentation enhances the corporation's ability to review, reference, and transfer technology and lessons learned. Proper report distribution and archiving maximizes the flow of technical information and minimizes uncoordinated duplication of effort.
The Aerospace Institute
The Institute is an important resource for learning and knowledge sharing at Aerospace. It fosters an environment that promotes continuing learning—knowledge acquisition—for all employees and provides a variety of learning opportunities, including a broad curriculum of education, training, and personal development courses and programs. The Institute also manages a full range of electronic and print-based information resources. The Aerospace Press publishes information on critical technical topics in aerospace science and technology; its publications are written by members of the corporation's technical staff.
Library and Information Resources Center
The Lauritsen Library collections have been developed with an emphasis on aerospace technology, physical and applied sciences, systems engineering, and business management. Administered by a staff of specialized information professionals, the extensive physical collection is supplemented with a variety of government, military, and commercial online resources made available through the library's Web site. These resources include the library's catalog and links to research databases, electronic book and periodical collections, and external government resources, as well as published articles and conference papers by Aerospace employees. The Library and Information Resources Center has the primary responsibility for retaining corporate knowledge.
The library administers the corporate technical-report numbering system and is the archive for all corporate-generated technical reports, both electronic and on paper, dating from 1960. The corporate archives are the repository for papers by Aerospace presidents and corporate officers as well as members of the corporation's board of trustees. Other holdings include maps, photographs, and significant corporate documents.
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As part of the library's storytelling series, retirees share their experiences and recollections of the early days at Aerospace. The series is an important aspect of knowledge retention and sharing at the corporation. Storytellers, left to right: Allan Boardman, former vice president; George Paulikas, former executive vice president; and Samuel Tennant, Aerospace's third president and CEO. |
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Databases
Aerospace relies on many databases in its work, three of which bear special note.
The Space Systems Engineering Database contains technical information on more than 1900 space programs, including launch history; factory, ground station, and on-orbit anomalies; timelines and milestones for life cycles; and configuration and hardware documentation. Data retrieved from the collection are used for risk mitigation, evaluation of test effectiveness, process optimization, and defect prevention.
Aerolink, the corporation's primary document repository, is a Web-based application that enables users to easily collaborate on documents, store them, and retrieve them for future use. As an active component of the corporation's knowledge management structure, Aerolink is a secure, comprehensive tool for the storing of formal and informal documents, both technical and administrative.
IBM Lotus Notes is the corporation's desktop software for accessing business e-mail and employee calendars.
Engineering Matrix and Staff Rotation
Most new members of the technical staff are assigned to the Engineering and Technology Group, and as members of this engineering matrix, provide support to the various corporate program offices. The engineering matrix contributes to knowledge sharing, provides a context for highly specialized technical learning, and enables technical talent to be readily applied where needed.
Staff rotation is a key feature of Aerospace employment and contributes to knowledge sharing. Technical employees can elect to rotate from their initial job assignments into other areas to broaden their experience and to provide their expertise to critical programs. At the end of the rotation period, staff may move to another position or remain with the initial assigned program.
The corporation also makes extensive use of retiree casual employment. Key skills are integrated within projects and initiatives using former members of the full-time workforce who are now part time.
Oral Communication
Much corporate knowledge is shared orally among the staff. Three notable projects have been implemented to capture some of this material.
Oral histories are interviews with prominent Aerospace personnel who performed significant roles in technical programs supported by the corporation since its founding. Oral histories allow these noteworthy individuals to provide, in their own words, information regarding their experiences in developing and advancing these programs. Transcripts are posted on the corporation's internal Web site; original tapes are retained in the corporate archives.
Aerospace Stories is a storytelling series sponsored by the library to capture corporate memory and provide mentoring. Employees who have played critical roles in the corporation's history share highlights of their careers and recount their experiences with key programs or events that have shaped the history of the corporation and the country's space program. The sessions are recorded on DVD and are available for checkout from the library.
Mentoring is a core value of the corporate staff. The long duration of technical programs makes intergenerational knowledge transfer and mentoring within the corporation very important. Senior members of the technical staff mentor junior staff to ensure an effective distribution of experience to meet the corporation's resource requirements. The large numbers of retiree casual employees with vast experience are a notable complement to the existing workforce, especially in their mentoring contributions.
