A qualitative analysis of NASA's Human Computer Interaction group examining the root causes of focusing on derivative system improvements versus core user needs

Abstract

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Human Computer Interaction (HCI) group was examined through the use of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and the development of a Congruence Model of Organizational Behavior. As work of the organization has increased over the last decade, the HCI group has trended toward exploitation of existing routines and derivative software improvements over understanding core user needs and double-loop learning. As a member of the group for more than 10 years, group lead for three years, and assistant division chief in a supervisory capacity of the group for two years, I drew on past subjective experience to create this qualitative analysis. The diagnosis and understanding of the root causes of these symptoms will create the foundation for strategic recommendations for the HCI group moving forward, including organizational structure, process improvements, and training needs as the group prepares to support the retirement of the International Space Station in the 2020s and Mars exploration in the 2030s.