A cup of Joe, and a new direction to go
2013-12-10
Coffee can fix a lot of woes, especially after a quick jolt of caffeine to the system. And when the existing affliction is a lack of understanding surrounding the JSC 2.0 charter and what it means for the center—well, sweeping measures had to be taken to alert Johnson Space Center team members to the challenge at hand.
“A team was formed by the center director that was tasked with addressing the following question: Is JSC lean, agile, responsive and adaptive to change?” said Jeff Phillips, assistant to the Center Director Office. “They were asked to do a quick-look assessment of four technical organizations (Mission Operations Directorate; Flight Crew Operations Directorate; Engineering; and Human Health and Performance Directorate). The team came back with several recommendations, with one of the recommendations to address the lack of understanding of JSC 2.0.”
The response? A monthly “coffee” chat with a random sampling of employees—including none other than JSC Director Ellen Ochoa and JSC Deputy Director Kirk Shireman. Not only was the coffee flowing, but so was the talk. Sharing ideas became easier in an informal, tabletop setting in the Building 3 Collaboration Center.
What does management gain from these chats? They get to hear real-time solutions and innovations, straight from employees on the front lines.
Management will “use insight gained to improve and track the implementation of JSC 2.0,” Phillips said.
Not only that, but best practices and success stories will be collected and shared with the JSC community.
Also on tap will be meetings between Ochoa and Shireman with division chiefs, while directors facilitate meetings with branch chiefs. The walls are coming down between organizations, and it will soon be apparent how JSC 2.0 is being implemented across the center.
So, if you receive a “surprise” invite for a spot of coffee (or insert your desired beverage) and some chatter, don’t be anxious—be open. The chats will be ongoing, and each session will include a mix of about two dozen civil servants and contractors. It’s bring your own beverage, casual and welcoming. See you there.
Catherine Ragin Williams
NASA Johnson Space Center
“A team was formed by the center director that was tasked with addressing the following question: Is JSC lean, agile, responsive and adaptive to change?” said Jeff Phillips, assistant to the Center Director Office. “They were asked to do a quick-look assessment of four technical organizations (Mission Operations Directorate; Flight Crew Operations Directorate; Engineering; and Human Health and Performance Directorate). The team came back with several recommendations, with one of the recommendations to address the lack of understanding of JSC 2.0.”
The response? A monthly “coffee” chat with a random sampling of employees—including none other than JSC Director Ellen Ochoa and JSC Deputy Director Kirk Shireman. Not only was the coffee flowing, but so was the talk. Sharing ideas became easier in an informal, tabletop setting in the Building 3 Collaboration Center.
What does management gain from these chats? They get to hear real-time solutions and innovations, straight from employees on the front lines.
Management will “use insight gained to improve and track the implementation of JSC 2.0,” Phillips said.
Not only that, but best practices and success stories will be collected and shared with the JSC community.
Also on tap will be meetings between Ochoa and Shireman with division chiefs, while directors facilitate meetings with branch chiefs. The walls are coming down between organizations, and it will soon be apparent how JSC 2.0 is being implemented across the center.
So, if you receive a “surprise” invite for a spot of coffee (or insert your desired beverage) and some chatter, don’t be anxious—be open. The chats will be ongoing, and each session will include a mix of about two dozen civil servants and contractors. It’s bring your own beverage, casual and welcoming. See you there.
Catherine Ragin Williams
NASA Johnson Space Center
JSC Director Ellen Ochoa, foreground right, engages in the first "coffee chat" to share JSC 2.0 ideas and innovations. Image Credit: NASA/James Blair