Barriers to Innovation and Inclusion

I am a former IT professional, my experience with project management had been that it was all about the management process and not the product. Our department implemented new management procedures that added a huge amount of paperwork to new projects. Before I left the company, the most productive use of my time was figuring out how to skirt the new project management procedures so that I could concentrate more time on the technical aspects of my work.

I don't think it's so much jealousy; I think it's more the fact that there's no more individual reward for success. If you come up with an amazing idea that saves everything, you're "NASA Engineer" if you're even mentioned at all. If you work twelve-hour days five days a week, you're "dedicated staff". But if you screw something up, THEN they're shouting your name from the rooftops. Where's the incentive to take a risk?

Can't believe NPR's Pop Culture did a story of serious tone on this video. Poor editing and acting. Looks more like someone in NPR wanted to promote their kid's YouTube project, or they came up dry on ideas. But, I do have to say it really does convey the stifled atmosphere of a typical corporatation. OH, NOW I SEE> IT WAS DONE BECAUSE IT ENDS UP THAT GOOGLE SAVES THE DAY! HAH!

No "CMMI Level 3", for that matter.

Yeah, this is a bit retarded. By the time a contractor is involved in a project of this scope a rigid schedule and process has been defined. For spaceflight this is critical due to the huge number of factors that need consideration. Innovation is good, and young people are smart for sure, but don't expect an organization like NASA, or Boeing, or even large banks to change their plans midstream. Save the innovation for the design phase of the next iteration of the project.

ugufru, this thinking is self-defeating, because it's always going to be either "too early to think about innovation, we've got to go with heritage as our baseline" or "too late to think about innovation, schedules and budget are already set". Where's the window? It's important to have the balls to break the cycle--and nobody seems to have that anymore.

Notice that this is happening in the MIDDLE of the project. If shed have spoken in terms of "We will not meet requirements or our deadline because of..." She would have stood a better chance to THEN introduce her idea.

Innovation has its place in projects but it is folly to think that it belongs in mid-deployment.

The video should have continued with its Law & Order theme and found Heather guilty of "Aggravated Scope Creep" and sentenced her to 12 years of middle management.

This should be required viewing for anybody working in or with the government. This scenario plays out everywhere, especially within DOD organizations. Very well done!

I don't believe that this is unique to NASA. i think there are many Heather's who've experienced this in established industries such as the auto industry, for example. When this happens in Silicon Valley, it is not uncommon to start a new company rather than be stifled by the established order. Best example is Intel which was founded by bright engineers who refused to accept the status quo. Most innovations are done by people in their 20s: Google, Yahoo, MSoft, Oracle, HP, Dell, etc.

Management 101 is where those discussions take place.