California State University, Northridge
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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Examining Team Culture And Communication at NASA’s JPL A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of the Arts in Anthropology By Neil Lee Thompsett May 2021 Signature Page The Thesis of Neil Thompsett is approved: ________________________________________ _________________ Dr. Christina Von Mayrhauser Date ________________________________________ _________________ Dr. Nhut Ho Date ________________________________________ _________________ Dr. Suzanne Scheld, Chair Date California State University Northridge ii Table of Contents Signature Page ................................................................................................................................ ii List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ vi List of Illustrations ....................................................................................................................... viii Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: My Entrée to JPL’s Culture of “Discussion and Debate” ............................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 The Research Problem ................................................................................................................ 4 The Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 4 Impacts of COVID – 19 on the Study ......................................................................................... 5 The Road Map ............................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 2: The Literature Review ................................................................................................... 9 Cyborg Anthropology ............................................................................................................... 12 Theoretical beginning of Organizational Structure ................................................................... 15 Case Studies of NASA and JPL ................................................................................................ 25 Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................................................................... 36 Digital Anthropology ................................................................................................................ 37 Storytelling-as-Research-Methodology .................................................................................... 46 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 48 iii The Four Stages ......................................................................................................................... 50 Chapter 4: The Complex History and Identity of JPL .................................................................. 61 Part 1 - Evolution of Organization ............................................................................................ 64 Part 2 - Evolution of Hierarchy, Managerial Spaces, and Teaming .......................................... 68 Part 3 - Evolution of Values, Successes, and Failures .............................................................. 78 Chapter 5: Views on Teamwork and JPL’s Future ....................................................................... 83 Characterizing the Sample ........................................................................................................ 83 Outcomes on General Characteristics of Teams and Communication ...................................... 88 COVID-19 Impact ................................................................................................................... 101 Hero Culture – “Firefighters” and “Fire Starters” ................................................................... 105 Outcomes for JPL’s Future ..................................................................................................... 109 Chapter 6: The Narratives Weaving Value into JPL’s Future ................................................... 114 Chapter 7: Conclusion and Recommendations ........................................................................... 128 The Reluctant Hero Culture .................................................................................................... 129 The Culture of Openness ......................................................................................................... 130 The Culture of Discussion and Debate .................................................................................... 133 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 135 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................... 137 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 150 iv List of Tables Table 3.1 Definitions of the Groups ............................................................................................. 53 Table 5.1 Positive and Negative associations with "Firefighters" .............................................. 107 v List of Figures Figure 5.1 Demographics in Gender ............................................................................................. 84 Figure 5.2 Demographics in Ethnicity .......................................................................................... 85 Figure 5.3 Demographics in Education ........................................................................................ 87 Figure 5.4 Demographics in Years at JPL .................................................................................... 88 Figure 5.5 Role and Responsibilities on the Team ....................................................................... 89 Figure 5.6 Number of Teams you have worked with ................................................................... 90 Figure 5.7 Most Important Characteristics of a Highly Functioning Team .................................. 90 Figure 5.8 Important Characteristics of a Team Leader ............................................................... 91 Figure 5.9 How was your Team Formed ...................................................................................... 92 Figure 5.10 Individual Expectations ............................................................................................. 93 Figure 5.11 Team Expectations .................................................................................................... 93 Figure 5.12 Self Characterization as a Team Leader .................................................................... 94 Figure 5.13 Self Characterization as a Team Member ................................................................. 96 Figure 5.14 Describing work and communication ........................................................................ 97 Figure 5.15 Distinguishing Characteristics ................................................................................... 98 Figure 5.16 What Works Well in Terms of Teamwork and Communication .............................. 99 Figure 5.17 Approach to Communication Needs to Change ...................................................... 100 Figure 5.18 How would you Change .......................................................................................... 101 Figure 5.19 COVID - 19 Negative Outcomes ............................................................................ 102 Figure 5.20 COVID - 19 Positive Outcomes .............................................................................. 103 Figure 5.21 Productivity During COVID - 19 ............................................................................ 104 Figure 5.22 No Option for Failure .............................................................................................. 106 Figure 5.23 Hero Culture ............................................................................................................ 107 vi Figure 5.24 Lab of the Future Working and Communicating .................................................... 110 Figure 5.25 2018 Plan ................................................................................................................. 111 Figure 5.26 Becoming the Laboratory of the Future .................................................................. 112 vii List of Illustrations Illustration 3.1 Four Research Stages ........................................................................................... 51 viii Abstract Examining Team Culture And Communication at NASA’s JPL By Neil Lee Thompsett Master of Arts in Anthropology It has been said that culture can be found everywhere, and that is true even in an organization like NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).