NASA: Innovation through Collaborative Chaos

November 20, 2014

Beth BeckOpen Innovation Program Manager

NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer

“Our society has reached a point where its progress and survival depends on our ability to organize the complex and to do the unusual.”

James Webb, former NASA Administrator

NASA: Innovation through Collaborative Chaos

Beth BeckOpen Innovation Program Manager

NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer

Space = Complex + Unusual!

Space Station: Humanity’s Collaborative Innovation Experiment

Beth Beck NASA

Beth Beck NASA

Expedition 38 Spacewalker Mike Hopkins

Try working 250 miles high with bulky gloves @ 17,500 mph!

Beth Beck NASA

So, what does collaboration look like?

Crescent Moon + Earth Exp 38 Astronaut Koichi Wakata

@BethBeck NASA

The reality is: collaboration = CHAOS!

Beth Beck NASA

Crab Nebula

Sometimes it looks like cold, hostile territory.

Beth Beck NASA

Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew.

Jan. 30, 2014 Lunar Transit

Mars View of Earth and Moon

But, it ALWAYS provides a fresh point of view.

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration is rarely a direct path.

Nile River from Space Station

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration has no form or set rules.

Aurora Australis from Space Station

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration means no one is in charge.

Robonaut

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration may have you spinning in circles.

Saturn

Beth Beck NASA

Solar flares

Collaboration creates tension + frustration.

Beth Beck NASA

Beth Beck NASA

How do we align our collaboration stars?

Runaway Kappa Cassiopeiae in Milky Way

Collaboration requires shared purpose + vision.

Space Station Expedition 37

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration requires time and patience.

Astronaut Don Pettit’s time-lapse portrait of Earth

Beth Beck NASA

Collaboration requires digging deep.

Mars Rover Microscopic view of planet

Beth Beck NASA

Recruit divergent + convergent thinkers!

Space Station Expedition 37 crew

Beth Beck NASA

Beth Beck NASA

Accept uncertainty + instability as the norm.

Orion Nebula

Beth Beck NASA

Keep your eye on the prize: INNOVATION!

Orion Nebula

Beth Beck NASA

Conflict + disruption sets stage for innovation.

Hybrid Winged Body Aircraft

Embrace the chaos! Collaboration creates conflict.

Collaborative chaos can be awesome to behold.

Astronaut Karen Nyberg in Station’s Cupola

Beth Beck NASA

Our Blue Marble

“If you want to go fast, go alone….

Beth Beck NASA

…If you want to go far, go TOGETHER.” African proverb

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Beth BeckOpen Innovation Program Manager

NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer

NASA: Innovation through Collaborative Chaos

How can YOU collaborate with us?

@spaceappswww.spaceappschallenge.org