UXC Consulting tests NASA team model in government

By Paul Hemsley

Business and ICT consulting company UXC Consulting has adopted a team and individual self assessment process compatible with government agencies.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) former director of astrophysics Charles J. Pellerin developed the model known as the 4-D system, which UXC Consulting will provide to interested government bodies.

The system was originally aimed at improving team performance at NASA for its effectiveness in mission critical environments, but has since been used by Boeing, China Aerospace, Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin.

The 4-D system measures eight key behaviours including trust, roles, accountability, authority, optimism and interests.

UXC Consulting director of emerging technology and innovation, Dave Favelle said the company is in “advanced talks” about the program with a Sydney based local council.

Due to confidentiality agreements, UXC Consulting cannot to identify the council they are working with.

Mr Favelle said one of the challenges of using this self assessment model on government agencies is sometimes it will be difficult for them to break through their cultural issues.

He said they need to buy into being measured and once that is done, then they can lead change in the organisation.

“We will never change a government department, they’ll have to change themselves through the process,” Mr Favelle said.

He said what UXC Consulting is keen on with this model it is quantitative with some qualitative results as well.

“It’s a real look in the mirror and most of them won’t be able to walk away from that because they will all do the same assessment and come up with a shared view on the culture of leadership aspects of their team and then they take a shared view about how to go forward,” he said.

According to Mr Favelle, beginning the 4-D process in the Sydney based council will provide a testing ground for assessing the program’s value and results for future clients in larger organisations.

“You do get your hands around a whole organisation that’s not that large and there’s a lot of energy in the NGO sector – they’ve got cash to spend on renewing a lot of their investment in IT,” Mr Favelle said.

He said these sorts of projects are a part of a deliberate strategy to get the right levels of engagement and test the whole model, providing a “proving ground” for some ideas.

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