Title: Knowledge management at NASA-Kennedy Space Center

Authors: Irma Becerra-Fernandez, Rajiv Sabherwal

Addresses: College of Business Administration, Florida International University, USA. ' College of Business Administration, University of Missouri-St. Louis, USA

Abstract: This case study describes some of the technical and socio-structural Knowledge Management (KM) initiatives at one of the best-known knowledge-based organisations: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Kennedy Space Center (NASA-KSC). The recent economic environment of diminishing budgets and consequent downsizing, coupled with the increasing work complexity, provides a compelling business case as to why KM is increasingly important for this organisation. The case explores the business reasons why NASA-KSC concluded it was important to develop Expert Seeker, an expertise locator KM system. The development process as well as the underlying system|s architecture is discussed. Finally, barriers to effective KM as well as a view into the future of KM are also presented.

Keywords: knowledge management; knowledge dissemination; knowledge capture; knowledge creation; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Kennedy Space Center; NASA; KSC; knowledge sharing; knowledge communities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2005.006257

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2005 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.159 - 170

Published online: 09 Feb 2005 *

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