TIPS for Managing Tech and Workflow Changes in Libraries

T.I.P.S. FOR MANAGING TECH AND WORKFLOW CHANGES IN

LIBRARIES

Colleen S. HarrisHead of Access Services & Assistant Professor

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

@warmaidenhttp://guardienne.blogspot.com

Getting Started

Who am I (and why am I here?) R&I to Access WMS ILL New building Reorg

Who are you (and why are you here)? Agenda

ON FAILUREOr, we’ve all been in Otto’s fur

AN EXERCISE IN CHANGE FAILURE

Think of an example of a failed attempt at a tech implementation or workflow

change. Of the major factors that

caused failure, which come to mind?

Ring Around the Rosie…

Expensive Technology

Tight Budgets High Demand Improved Services Increased

Competition

Tech change can lead to workflow redesign

Cooperation can lead to workflow redesign

Workflow redesign can lead to tech change

TECHNOLOGY(THIS IS THE EASY PART)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28478778@N05/5729009434/

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY WALK INTO MORDOR FORM A COMMITTEE

TECHNOLOGY

What problem are you solving? What do you want the technology to

do? What equipment do you need? (We’ll get to “who” questions in a

moment…)

INFRASTRUCTURE“If you build it, they will come” presumes a foundation to build

upon http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanochiarelli/6219871940/

INFRASTRUCTURE

Capacity for implementation Budget Space

(physical/virtual) Staffing

Example: the open source happy dance Staff time Technical

knowhow Server space

Planning(the messy part)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paparutzi/252726576/

PLANNING

Timeline Realistic? Broad &

component parts? Reflecting in goal setting, expectations and evaluations?

Inclusiveness Defining

stakeholders People you don’t

think will be affected, will be

Communication Standing meetings;

can also cancel, but you know that time is blocked

Success Tracking Failpoint Evaluation Reorganization

SKILLS

http://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/5183773471

SKILLS

What competencies do your staff have?

What competences do your staff need?

How big is the gap? What are you going to do about it?

Skill assessments? Who? How? Training program? Who? How?

FRAMING QUESTIONS

WHAT’S MISSING?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnus_akselvoll/4741056713/

CASES