SEMT107 How to Build High-Performing Teams and Successfully Transform a Failing Organizational Culture
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM Wednesday, October 23
Expo Hall: Emerging Tech Stage
In 2003, the Columbia Space Shuttle tragically disintegrated during earth entry after 16 days in space. Aside from the technological causes, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board concluded in their assessment that "cultural traits and organizational practices detrimental to safety were allowed to develop," citing "reliance on past success as a substitute for sound engineering practices" and "organizational barriers and behaviors that prevented effective communication of critical safety information" among the problems found.
How could “good” engineers and managers misdiagnose the severity of the foam impact on crew safety and make such poor decisions? In this session, astronaut Charles Camarda will show you how to build a culture of learning and employ a strategy using intelligent fast failure to tackle the “epic” challenges your organization faces. How do you build high-performing teams that are equipped to solve new, ambiguous, and complex challenges? With the right organizational culture and the right tools, evoke imagination in your teams and fail successfully upward and beyond.
In this session, you will learn:
- How a culture lacking in psychological safety resulted in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
- How to build a culture of learning
- About the digital transformation of learning
- How to tackle complex, multidisciplinary, “epic” challenges in your workplace
- How to promote psychological safety and mitigate destructive cultural and cognitive biases
- What kind of tools you need to create and analyze virtual collaboration
- How AI, machine learning, and natural language processing can help personalize and scale learning
- How to fail fast, smart, small, cheap, early, and often
Technology discussed:
Valamis Learning Experience Platform
Target audience:
Managers, senior leaders (directors, VP, CLO, executive), academics, educators
Charles Camarda
Astronaut, Former Senior Advisor for Innovation
NASA
Dr. Charles Camarda, an astronaut and former senior advisor for innovation at NASA, received his undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, his MS from GW in mechanical engineering, and a PhD in aerospace engineering from VPI. He was head of the thermal structures branch at NASA’s Langley Research Center when he was selected to be an astronaut in 1996. He flew on the return-to-flight mission of Space Shuttle STS-114 in 2005. He held numerous positions at NASA before retiring in 2019. He was inducted into the Air and Space Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2017. He currently teaches, consults, and is the founder/CEO of the Epic Education Foundation. An inventor, author, and educator, he speaks on subjects related to engineering, engineering design, innovation, safety, and organizational behavior.
