Transforming NASA: Space Technology in the Goldin Years

摘要：Henry Lambright， Syracuse university， NASA转型：黄金时代的空间技术行政领导在联邦科技机构的变革中扮演什么角色？有一些学者认为这个角色是微不足道的，而另一些人则持相反的观点。答案在于理解领导者与组织之间的关系以及领导者所服务的政治环境中的情况。为了探索和分析这种复杂的关系，PI调查了1992年至2001年期间在NASA工作的丹尼尔·戈尔丁。戈尔丁是NASA历史上任职时间最长的管理者，就连续服务而言。他由乔治·布什任命，比尔·克林顿保留，乔治·w·布什要求他在总统招募替代者期间留任。任职这么长时间，戈尔丁有机会做出改变。这段时间他做了什么？这项研究追踪了戈尔丁在NASA组织和技术变革过程中的作用。在他的旅行中，他帮助重新设计了空间站，并与俄罗斯建立了联系。这个被称为国际空间站的设施目前正在太空中组装。他还采用了一种“更快、更好、更便宜”的管理方法来降低成本，加快机器人航天器的发射速度，尤其是那些与火星任务有关的航天器。这种方法有成功（火星全球勘测者、探路者）也有失败（火星气候轨道器、火星极地着陆器）。他启动了许多新项目，频繁重组，并大幅缩减了他的机构。在他的任期内，他一直顶着预算之风工作，与一个又一个的冲突作斗争，并可能成为NASA有史以来最具争议的管理者。利用政策过程模型，本项目研究了任命戈尔丁之前的情况，这些情况导致布什总统将一个“局外人”带着变革的授权带到NASA。《私人侦探》追踪了戈尔丁多年来作为一名行政人员的演变过程，从这位企业高管/工程师发展到在华盛顿运作的政治技巧。该项目还考察了不断变化的政治环境如何影响他的决定，而戈尔丁又如何反过来影响了环境。一个关键的问题是，NASA局长如何不仅塑造一个组织，而且塑造它的技术，并向它们传授他的价值观。PI还研究了戈尔丁的哪些变革产生了成功、不成功和好坏参半的结果，以及原因。最后，这项研究延伸到了戈尔丁离开之后，调查了戈尔丁去世后遗留下来的任何政策创新。这个为期三年的研究项目最终出版了一本关于当代科学和技术背景下行政和政府领导与变革的书。

ABSTRACTSES 0114689, Henry Lambright, Syracuse UniversityTransforming NASA: Space Technology in the Golden YearsWhat role does the administrative leader play in change in a federal science and technology agency? There are some scholars who say that role is trivial and others who say the opposite. The answer lies in understanding the relationship between the leader and organization and circumstances in the political environment at the time the leader serves. To explore and analyze that complex relationship, the PI examines Daniel Goldin at NASA in the period 1992 to 2001. Goldin has served longer than any administrator in NASA history, in terms of continuous service. Appointed by George Bush, retained by Bill Clinton, he has been asked by George W. Bush to stay on while the President recruits a replacement. With this much time in office, Goldin has had the opportunity to make a difference. What has he done with that time?This study tracks Goldin's role in the organizational and technological change process at NASA. During his tour, he has helped get the Space Station redesigned and linked with the Russians. Called International Space Station, this facility is currently being assembled in space. He has also used a "faster, better, cheaper," management approach to bring down the cost and speed the launch rate of robotic spacecraft, particularly those associated with Mars missions. That approach has had successes (Mars Global Surveyor, Pathfinder) and failures (Mars Climate Orbiter, Mars Polar Lander). He has initiated a host of new programs, reorganized frequently and downsized his agency dramatically. Throughout his tenure, he has worked against the budgetary wind, fought one conflict after another, and become probably the most controversial administrator NASA has had.Using a policy process model, this project studies the circumstances prior to Goldin's appointment that caused President Bush to bring an "outsider" to NASA with a mandate for change. The PI tracks Goldin's evolution as an administrator over the years as this business executive/engineer developed political skills to operate in Washington. The project also examines how the ever-shifting political environment impacted his decisions and how Goldin, in turn, influenced that environment. A key issue is how NASA administrator shaped not only an organization but its technologies, imparting to them his values. The PI also examines which of Goldin's changes have had results that were successful, unsuccessful, and mixed, and the reasons why. Finally, the study extends past Goldin's departure to investigate any policy innovations that survived him. This three-year research project culminates in a book on administrative and governmental leadership and change in the contemporary science and technology context.