Boosting Agility and Expertise: The Impact of Freelancer Staffing at NASA CAS
CLIENT
NASA CAS
INDUSTRY
- Space
01
Overview
Project Synopsis:
NASA aims to increase innovation in the way airplanes fly and the aviation industry along with it. The Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project invests in seemingly improbable ideas that might lead to solutions to the problems that plague aviation and impact safety, environmental and community impact, and the global growth in air traffic.
NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions (CAS) project engaged Ensemble to recruit and curate a team of Innovation Architects, economists, social scientists, sci-fi writers, and technical generalists to serve as essential support to CAS’s Discovery Team. The team’s objective is to investigate complex “wicked” problems that reside in societal and global contexts and connect these with aviation to address multifaceted challenges such as climate change, public health, and poverty.
Background of the Problem:
The CAS project operates within the “wicked” innovation quadrant, a framework aimed at tackling complex problems that are interconnected and lack straightforward solutions. This quadrant is dedicated to addressing “wicked” challenges, like poverty, public health, and ecological degradation, which demand a nuanced, interdisciplinary approach. NASA’s CAS Discovery Team uses an aviation lens to explore these societal challenges, examining their connections across fields like politics and ethics. By operating in this quadrant, the team guides NASA’s strategic investments in aeronautics research and development, creating adaptive solutions that address the rapidly changing needs of global communities.
Project Duration:
The project runs from January 2024 to June 2025, with freelancers participating in online meetings, report generation, future scenario planning workshops, economic modeling, literature reviews, report creation, and quarterly in-person sessions.
02
OUR
Approach
To support NASA CAS’s Discovery Team in addressing “wicked” societal challenges, Ensemble implemented a multifaceted approach focused on strategic freelancer recruitment, rigorous vetting, structured collaboration, and continuous support. Each phase ensured that freelancers could effectively contribute to CAS’s mission of developing aeronautic solutions that address complex, interconnected global issues.
Talent Recruitment and Training:
Ensemble conducted a targeted search to identify professionals with cross-disciplinary expertise in innovation, policy, economics, legal, social science, and ethics, ensuring an applicant pool capable of tackling complex, interdisciplinary problems. Through a comprehensive vetting process, Ensemble assessed each applicant’s qualifications, experience, and suitability for the Discovery Team, ensuring alignment with CAS’s goal and values. Once selected, team members were onboarded and provided with preparatory training to familiarize them with CAS’s objectives and collaborative problem-solving approach, equipping them to play active roles in identifying and addressing societal issues through an aviation lens.
Facilitation of Sprints, Virtual Meetings and Workshops:
To ensure effective collaboration, Ensemble’s Innovation Architects facilitated structured interactions on topics such as Ensemble coordinated live online meetings and workshops, were organized to strengthen team cohesion and enable in-depth discussions on critical challenges, bridging virtual collaboration with hands-on, problem-solving sessions. To foster continuous improvement, we designed and refined six unique Discovery Sprint designs. Our bi-weekly CAS Discovery Sprint team meetings have become pivotal in aligning project vision, encouraging feedback, and providing space for iteration. We also led the kickoff for the Recombinant Innovation team, setting a solid foundation for collaboration and creative exploration.In pursuit of sustainability in aviation, we updated our sprint templates for the Sustainable Aviation and Recombinant Innovation teams. With careful planning underway, we’re implementing an intensive Sustainable Aviation Sprint. By identifying and escalating potential risks, we proactively address personnel challenges, ensuring a smooth and impactful sprint experience.
Scenario Development and Deliverable / Report Management
In overseeing deliverables, Ensemble ensured that all project outputs were timely and accurately completed to support CAS’s mission of developing solutions that respond to societal needs. This involved managing the creation of essential documentation, such as reports, literature reviews, trend analyses, and scenario planning documents. Ensemble also tracked project milestones closely, ensuring each deliverable met the standards and timelines set by CAS.
Ongoing Support and Performance Monitoring
Throughout the project’s duration, Ensemble provided continuous support and guidance to maintain project quality and alignment with CAS objectives. Freelancers received ongoing assistance to reinforce their roles in collaborative problem-solving, ensuring sustained alignment with CAS’s mission. Regular performance reviews were conducted to monitor progress, and any necessary freelancer replacements were managed seamlessly, maintaining project momentum and quality standards.
04
Results
- Specialized Skills on Demand: Freelancers allow NASA to bring in niche expertise as needed, ensuring each project benefits from highly relevant skills without long-term commitments.
- Flexible, Scalable Staffing: Freelance models let NASA scale resources based on project needs, reducing costs and adapting quickly to project shifts. Rapidly recruited a team of seven technical specialists to bring niche skill sets to meet NASA’s future scenario planning needs
- Six Discovery Sprint designs facilitated rapid iteration and ongoing project improvement.
- Received multiple contract modifications to the project to increase and augment the scope of work based on successful performance
- Received high levels of ongoing customer satisfaction with ‘Excellent’ CPARS rating within the NASA IDIQ
