How Anomaly Response is Distributed Across Functionally Distinct Teams in Space Shuttle Mission Control

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the coordinative anomaly response processes of functionally distinct teams who encountered a space shuttle anomaly at the beginning of a shuttle mission. Anomaly response processes were observed as two distinct teams considered how to modify mission plans in response to the anomaly. We analyzed multiple coordinative and independent activities that occurred across the teams over several days until the space shuttle safely returned. Our analysis of this case captures how the processes of anomaly response become distributed across a set of functionally distinct teams. The analysis identifies the demands that arise as anomaly response is distributed and reveals how interactions among distinct teams can make anomaly response robust in the face of uncertainty and risk.