How Do Rocket Scientists Learn? (aka, knowledge management lessons learned at Goddard, NASA) - GovLoop

How Do Rocket Scientists Learn? (aka, knowledge management lessons learned at Goddard, NASA) - GovLoop

The success of the things that come out of NASA is a reflection of the knowledge of and collaboration between thousands of brilliant people. NASA's work is organized around Missions, where people from across the center are brought together to work on projects. Knowledge Management is about the better application of collective knowledge to individual problems. At Goddard, the focus is on the individual's learning processes, structures, and needs, rather than content management systems.

Social Media Can Enhance Learning (but relationships matter)

The important thing to note is that whether you collaborate or simply connect, the strength of your ties will have an impact on what you are able to do. If you really want to be able to get rapid, trustworthy answers or enhance or accelerate results on a project, it will be important to develop those strong ties. Social media has a lot of potential, but you need to think about how to facilitate different kinds of (online and offline) relationships between people so that their thinking is improved, innovation occurs, and they can get quick answers to complex problems, in order to enhance and accelerate business outcomes.

Learning in Public is Hard, but Worth It.

If you share what you know and what you don't know in the middle of a project, you give people an opportunity to share specific knowledge that can help you in the moment. If it works, this can help save time and money. Sometimes learning in public is a difficult process, but the feedback, support, and resultant improvements are worth it.

The History of Knowledge Sharing

One of the earliest known iterations of knowledge sharing took the form of cave drawings in 15,000 BC. From there, documentation became more sophisticated, evolving from imagery to alphabets, and from walls to scrolls. The invention of the printing press in 1440 was the first time information was easily distributed via print material. It wasn't until over 400 years later that libraries were available to the general public. The 1900s saw incredibly rapid changes in knowledge sharing, starting with real-time radio broadcasting at the beginning of the century and then culminating with the invention of the internet in the 1980s.

Research shows that consultants were amongst the first professionals to seriously explore and consider the best means of sharing knowledge. As companies grew and technology improved, one lesson had been made clear: the death of knowledge is to isolate it. Knowledge isolation is a problem, and while there are countless platforms to store and share knowledge, finding ones that are highly searchable is rare. Without the ability to easily search, knowledge inevitably gets lost.

The biggest factor driving the development of knowledge sharing is search. AI can be used to establish contextual similarities between documents and to serve users relevant content suggestions. Interacting with, rather than simply viewing, content provides context and helps deepen understanding. When users can interact with content by writing comments, posing questions, and "liking" documents, technology can spur collaboration.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Foster strong relationships: Develop strong ties with colleagues and collaborators to enhance knowledge sharing and accelerate project results. Building these relationships can be facilitated through both online and offline interactions.

• 2. Embrace learning in public: Share what you know and what you don't know in the midst of a project. This allows others to provide specific knowledge that can help in real-time, saving time and money. Although it may be challenging, the feedback, support, and resulting improvements are invaluable.

• 3. Prioritize searchable knowledge platforms: Seek out knowledge sharing platforms that prioritize searchability. Without a reliable search function, knowledge can easily get lost. Look for platforms that leverage AI to establish contextual similarities between documents and provide relevant content suggestions. Interacting with content through comments, questions, and likes can further deepen understanding and encourage collaboration.

In conclusion, effective knowledge sharing is essential for success in any field. NASA's approach emphasizes the individual learning processes, structures, and needs, while also fostering collaboration and empowering individuals to share their knowledge. Social media can enhance learning by facilitating strong ties and enabling quick access to trustworthy answers and solutions. Learning in public, though challenging, can lead to valuable feedback and improvements. The history of knowledge sharing shows how it has evolved over time, with advancements in technology playing a crucial role. To make knowledge sharing more effective, it is important to prioritize searchable platforms and leverage AI for contextual suggestions and interactive content. By implementing these actionable advice, individuals and organizations can enhance their knowledge management practices and drive better outcomes.