What is “Tao”, and what does it have to do with the discipline area of Mission Assurance?

Tao can be thought of as the natural order of the cosmos, the universal force and principle from which all things real and unreal derive.  The Tao is not an object, person, text, history, or “divine being”; it is the driving force behind the mechanics of the universe.  And it is the nature of this force that one must endeavor to perceive and be in harmony with, in order to realize personal sagacity, individual freedom, and accomplishment.  The concept of the Tao has its roots in ancient Chinese thought and has been central to Chinese philosophy and religion for thousands of years. The earliest written references to the Tao can be found in the text of the Tao Te Ching (or Daodejing), which is believed to have been written around the 4th century BCE.  This text, attributed to the Zhou dynasty sage Lao Tzu but more likely a compilation of the writings, stories, and oral traditions of many different persons dating back to pre-historic times, is considered the foundational text of Taoism.  The main themes of the text revolve around the nature of Tao and how to understand and use it to accomplish great things in the real world. 

These themes are repeated over and over throughout the tome and follow many formulations of the same lessons, often with only slight differences, but all emphasizing the need to work with the way of things, rather than against them to accomplish one’s goals.  Importantly, the Tao is described as not only the force behind how things happen, but as the ultimate reality of everything.  This is an intriguing concept, as it implies that the Tao is its own progenitor, it is both the cause and the effect.  Some modern-day cosmological theories pose a similar hypothesis when describing the origins of the universe; the universe has both always been there, and it caused itself to happen.  A fascinating duality and, as this work is intended to explore, a central tenet of Mission Assurance.

Taoism (or Daoism) as a religion emerged around the 2nd century BCE, it was initially a blend of various beliefs and practices, including ancestor worship, shamanism, and alchemy.  Over time, it developed into a distinct philosophy and religious tradition, with its own set of beliefs, practices, and institutions.  The fundamental concept of the Tao has also been adopted and adapted by other cultures and played a prominent role in the development of other philosophical and religious traditions, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, feng shui, and Qigong.

More of a philosophy, than a religion

In recent years, interest in Taoism has seen a resurgence both in China and around the world, as people seek to understand and apply the principles of the Tao in their daily personal and professional lives.  Taoist philosophy stresses the importance of cultivating inner balance and harmony, which can be implemented in one’s personal life in many positive ways, especially in the cultivation and practice of mindfulness, or “living in the moment” in everything you do. But what does Taoism or even the word Tao (often not capitalized) have to do with business or management professions generally, or specifically the subset discipline of Systems Engineering known as Mission Assurance? 

Actually, the concepts behind Taoism have often been used to illustrate business and management best practices. Taoism emphasizes principles such as balance, simplicity, and flexibility, which can be applied to a wide range of fields and have been seen as relevant and useful both for managing complex systems and promoting well-being in the workplace. 

For example, the idea of living in harmony with the Tao and letting things happen naturally has been compared to the concept of “flow” in manufacturing productivity.  The Taoist principle of non-interference and not forcing things can be seen as similar to the idea of “management by exception,” where a manager only intervenes when necessary, allowing employees to work independently and creatively.  And the Taoist emphasis on adaptability and simplicity can be seen as similar to the principles of Lean Six Sigma, a management practice where waste and inefficiency are minimized, and processes are streamlined.

A more specific example of a principle of Taoism being used in business management is the idea of “wu wei,” which translates to “non-action” or “effortless action.” In Taoist philosophy, wu wei” refers to the idea of letting things happen naturally and not forcing outcomes.  In the context of business management, wu wei is applied by creating an environment where employees feel empowered to take initiative and make decisions, rather than relying on a top-down management style. This leads to increased innovation and creativity, as well as a more motivated and engaged workforce.  For instance, a manager applying “wu wei” will provide clear goals and guidelines for their team but allow them to figure out the best way to achieve those goals, fostering a sense of ownership and accountability and leading to overall improved work performance and job satisfaction.

Another example might be where a manager applies the Taoist principle of balance and harmony between all things, by promoting and facilitating a healthy balance between employee’s personal and professional lives.  And by promoting a harmonious and safe work environment where new ideas are expressed, conflicts are resolved and teamwork is encouraged, contributing to improved morale and employee well-being.

All of these principles and behaviors are relevant to aerospace Program Leadership, Project Management, and, yes Mission Assurance, as this book intends to show. 

A frequent subject of publication

In fact, many books have been published exploring the connection between Taoism and business management, leadership, and even engineering design.  Some example titles include:

• “The Tao of Leadership: Leadership Strategies for a New Age “, 1986, by John Heider – This book explores the principles of Taoism and how they can be applied to leadership and management.

• “The Tao of Influence: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Leaders and Entrepreneurs “, 2020, by Karen McGregor – This book provides practical advice on how entrepreneurs can apply Taoist principles to their businesses to achieve success.

• “The Tao of Innovation: Nine Questions Every Innovator Must Answer” 2014, by Hsien-Yeang Seow, et al. – This book applies Taoist principles to the process of innovation and supplies a framework for approaching innovation in a holistic and mindful way.

• “The Tao of Systems Engineering: An Engineer’s Survival Guide” 2014, by Ronald Paul Sherwin, – This book uses the principle of Taoism, particularly flexibility, to help experienced engineers transition from designing to a set of provided requirements to designing the requirements themselves, from a customer’s more ambiguously described vision and goal. 

• “The Tao of Gung Fu: A Study in the Way of Chinese Martial Art” by Bruce Lee – Although not specifically focused on business management, this book by the martial arts legend Bruce Lee explores the connection between Taoist philosophy and the practice of martial arts and provides insights into how to cultivate inner balance and harmony in all aspects of life, including work and business. 

I remember reading and enjoying “The Tao of Gung Fu” as a young martial arts practitioner in high school.  At the time, I was looking for a competitive edge when sparring with my classmates and participating in tournaments.  It wasn’t until much later in life (in taking on the authorship of this book in fact) that I came to realize what a profound effect Master Lee’s work had on my personal thinking and approach to life and work.

“The Tao of Leadership”, by John Heider

“The Tao of Leadership” by John Heider is a particularly inspirational text that explores the connection between Taoist philosophy and leadership. The author asserts that the principles of Taoism, such as balance, simplicity, and non-interference, are relevant and useful for leaders who are looking to create a harmonious and productive work environment.  The book is structured around the key concepts of Taoism, such as the Tao itself, yin and yang, and wu wei (non-action). Applying these concepts to the practice of leadership, the author shows how leaders can use Taoist principles to inspire and motivate their teams, create a sense of purpose, and foster a culture of creativity and innovation.  Key themes of the book include:

• The importance of balance: Leaders should strive for a balance between their own needs and those of their employees, as well as between the needs of their organization and the wider community.

• The value of simplicity: Leaders who adopt a simple and uncluttered approach to leadership are more effective and able to make better decisions.

• The power of non-interference: Leaders who allow their employees to take initiative and make decisions are more likely to inspire creativity and innovation.

• The importance of inner peace: Leaders who cultivate inner peace and balance are better able to lead effectively and make decisions with clarity.

As a matter of opinion, “The Tao of Leadership” and its 2015 second edition “The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age”, is an inspirational resource for leaders who are seeking to incorporate Taoist principles into their leadership practices. The book supplies a clear and accessible introduction to Taoism and shows how its concepts and practices can be applied to the modern workplace.  For example, the author simplifies Lao Tzu’s original phraseology on the concepts of Polarity and Yin Yang, into modern-day contexts of interoffice politics and work dynamics, explaining how oversubscribed behaviors or rules, often lead to the opposite of the intended outcome – a sure indication of Taoism’s adaptability to Mission Assurance.

Tao in space systems development and operations

A positive Taoist influence on Business Management and Leadership might be straightforward to grasp, but what aspects of aerospace engineering might benefit from a Taoist approach?  In reality, the process and scale of planning, designing, building, and launching aerospace engineering systems is vast.  So vast that, beyond the engineering design of space system technology, an aerospace mission requires a tremendous degree of organization, management, and leadership.  Professional leadership disciplines such as Project Engineering, Systems Engineering, Program Management, and of course, Mission Assurance, play a prominent role in the successful launch and operation of an aerospace mission. Furthermore, given the magnitude of time and money invested in even a short-lived, research and development mission, the stress and pressure experienced by these people, and everyone else involved, can be extreme. 

The focus of Mission Assurance is on ensuring that an aerospace engineering development is conducted safely, efficiently, and effectively, with the quality, performance, and reliability proportionate to mission objectives and consequences of failure. This involves a comprehensive and integrated approach to risk management, quality assurance, systems safety, and specialty engineering, among other things.  By integrating these different elements and working in a collaborative manner, Mission Assurance helps to ensure that an aerospace program is executed successfully.  Similarly, Taoism emphasizes balance and harmony, and the idea that all things are interconnected. By focusing on balance and integration, Taoism provides a philosophy for living and working that can be applied to any context, including aerospace engineering, particularly Mission Assurance.

The Tao of Mission Assurance, Blog and Book

The purpose of this blog and the associated book is to provide the background and description for the discipline of Mission Assurance and offer a method for conducting the planning and execution of a Mission Assurance program in support of an aerospace engineering mission.  It is planned to:

• Outline the background and offer a definition for Mission Assurance and describe how it contributes to a successful aerospace mission, and how it fits in with other program leadership functions.

• Supply and overview of the traditional technical disciplines typically forming a Mission Assurance program, and why they are important to the design and operation of an aerospace mission.

• Delve deeply into the role of Mission Assurance Manager, offering some important characteristics, outlining typical duties on an aerospace program, and suggesting a few methods to be successful in the position.

• Review examples of space system failures, what was learned from the individual failures, and how Mission Assurance could have (or did) play a role.

This is a lofty enough aim as it is, but why also incorporate the concepts of Taoism into the objective above, and even use the word “Tao” in the title?  Why not “The Art of Mission Assurance”, or “The Skill of Mission Assurance” or even “What Mission Assurance is, Why it Matters and How to be a Successful Mission Assurance Manager” (which is what is hoped this book ultimately achieves)?  Beyond being a source of Eastern Philosophy and the foundation of several religions, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides the following definition for Tao:

            Tao \ ‘dau, ‘tau \

The art or skill of doing something in harmony with the essential nature of the thing.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Taoism as a means to illustrate the discipline of Mission Assurance and offer a model for its implementation, was chosen for a reason, hearkening back to the original description of the nature of the Tao itself.  Aside from the merits of a short title, and the benefit of invoking an obscure word echoing both mysticism and higher-order thinking as it pertains to the subject, one can shorten the definition of Tao to simply “the way” or “how to do it.  In more definitive words, how to engage in, plan, and execute as a Mission Assurance Manager on an Aerospace mission.  To be successful, a Mission Assurance Manager must work in harmony with the many other engineering and business disciplines that make up an aerospace program, balancing risk against cost and schedule, simplifying technical design for quality and reliability, securing against mishaps, and achieving performance, all while demonstrating flexibility in the fulfillment of both Customer and Corporate goals.  Both the act of and the achievement of all this is called “Mission Success”.

For the purposes of this work, “Tao” is the underlying principle behind the achievement of Mission Success.  It means employing the principles of flexibility, balance, simplicity, and harmony to ensure the engineering design of the Mission.  Both the definition and achievement of Mission Success.  The goal, and the way. 

The Tao of Mission Assurance = Mission Success