Knowledge management at NASA-Kennedy Space Center

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.