Rebuilding NASA: Communication Issues

The Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) presented a ground-breaking report in identifying communication issues relating to the loss of shuttle Columbia and in emphasizing the NASA organizational culture as a principal factor that confused communication and impeded effective action. This article first describes several of the technical communication issues relating to the disaster. Second, it reveals the penetrating focus of the CAIB investigation on the NASA culture. This focus on the organizational culture is, the author contends, a beneficial reflection of the pervasive influence of the social constructivist perspective throughout the academic world including technical and professional communication studies.