| | November 20159CIOReview10. Governance, Business Management and Operations provide for effective and efficient alignment, oversight, approvals, implementation of project operations, and establishes rigorous processes in those operations.11. Digital Technology opens new frontiers of potential knowledge and enables access across multiple sources of data and information, resulting in open, social network-centric, non-proprietary, adaptable, and flexible frameworks that accelerate learning processes.12. Knowledge itself is an organized set of content, skills, and capabilities gained through experience as well as through formal and informal learning that organizations and practitioners apply to make sense of new and existing data and information.The REAL Knowledge Model:The NASA CKO Office developed the Rapid Engagement through Accelerated Learning (REAL) Knowledge model (Figure 1) in response to these aforementioned strategic imperatives. It is a descriptive practitioner-centered model emphasizing an organizational knowledge systems perspective that better negotiates rapid change and accelerated learning in data-rich complex project environments and can better accommodate complex organizational strategies.At the core of the REAL Knowledge model are the operational KS cycle activities of Capture, Share, and Discover, each paired with an effectiveness measure. For example: Capturing knowledge is the action and Retaining is the measure; Sharing knowledge is the action and Applying is the measure; and Discovering is the action and Creating is the measure. Surrounding the KS core activities are the Individual/Team Knowledge factors and the Organizational/Societal Expectations that affect the journey of the Challenge/Opportunity from inception through the knowledge cycle to successful project outcomes. Bi-directional process arrows indicate influence and input.In describing the REAL Knowledge model, this top-level snapshot serves to illustrate a progression of activity:1. The organization selects and prioritizes a Challenge/Opportunity.2. A learning plan that compliments the project charter and project plan is initiated.3. Communities of practice are recruited with points of contact.4. The KS cycle is supported by specific learning strategies, methods, models, and technology tools to better define the opportunity; aggregate the data, information and knowledge; inform the alternatives for project decisions; provide appropriate environments to spur and support innovation and invention through Discovery and Creation; and support implementation through knowledge support as the project proceeds through the lifecycle.5. Individual and Team Knowledge is leveraged, encouraged, supported and enhanced through KS activities.6. Expectations are identified and operationalized into objective definitions of performance and are communicated.Final Thoughts:The REAL Knowledge model identifies and describes the interfaces, variables and components of the project knowledge environment. Future research will address how organizations and practitioners can better leverage services to get things done:1. What are the characteristics of challenges and opportunities that achieve organizational and individual commitment, align individual and organizational agendas, and promote effective project management?2. How should organizations best address talent development?3. What are the metrics and measures that best capture effectiveness and efficiency in knowledge processes and outcomes?4. Can biases and heuristics that drive organizational and societal expectations be identified and addressed to inform how organizations can make better decisions and design better measures?5. What are the operational definitions and certification parameters of knowledge behaviors for project practitioners for talent development and requirements?6. How can characteristics that make data and information searchable and findable be operationalized to requirements and behaviors?7. How do knowledge services and accelerated learning reduce complexity?Jon BoyleFigure 1.
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