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Imoroving the organizational structure for an electronic environment: a case analysis of Kuwait University libraries. Nouf A. Al- Shuraian. Changing environment. So in libraries, they have to change their ways and direction in order to accompany with the environment changes.
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Imoroving the organizational structure for an electronic environment:a case analysis of Kuwait University libraries Nouf A. Al-Shuraian
Changing environment So in libraries, they have to change their ways and direction in order to accompany with the environment changes. One of the most obvious changes is automation
Automation Automation is one side of the changing environment. We hear the word automation a lot. But we don’t have a simple definition for it. Simply, automation is the replacement of manual operations by computerized method. For example: Now we have access to all e-books, e-journals, getting the full version from home, reading a book through the internet, …. Etc. Kuwait university libraries administration has already implemented VTLS (The Virginia Tech Library System) system for automation of its operations.
Access versus ownership The second factor is access versus ownership Before libraries aimed to own as much as possible from different materials but now with the technology it’s easy to access to the different materials through the internet and to remote library catalogs, bibliographic databases, bulletin boards, newsgroups, electronic conferences and more.
Customer focus The third factor is customer focus Which is to provide customers with operations support and satisfaction for their information needs. Libraries and different institutions now going toward TQM = Total Quality Management which provide change in organizational structures to produce flatter organizations, empower employees, and decision making to lower levels. Kuwait university libraries have been trying to provide access to users to the local and external information resources through a network either from campus or home.
Restructuring of higher education The last factor is restructuring of higher education As you can see these two images explain what is restructuring Which is the need for change in the ways libraries reorganize, function and provide services. Higher education institutions are changing due to the changing in the external environment.
Changes in organizational structures of libraries Library Director Finance Assistant Director for information services and faculty libraries Assistant Director For technical services Law library Art library (women) F. Acq. D. A. Acq. D. Science library Education library F. Catalog. A. Catalog. Sharia library E. & P. library AV & P.S. K. & G. IC Periodicals G. & E. Art library (men) A. S. library M. Library UN Library
Now after I talked about the change factors I am going to mention the changes in organizational structures of libraries. Most libraries have traditionally been hierarchical organizations with three main divisions. Technical services. Public services. And administration. Kuwait university libraries are organized under the libraries administration. In which all the different libraries report to them except Allied Health and Medical library that report to the dean of the medical college. Kuwait university libraries have two divisions which are technical and information services. As you can see each division has some departments.
Revised organizational structure Vice President For Academic Support Services Libraries Director Planning Team A. D. for L. S. & N. A. D. for F. L. A. D. for T.S Science L. Edu. L. Cataloging Library S. Sharia L. A. & M. L. Collection D. Team Law L. K. & G. IC Networks Acquisition A. W. L. A. S. & U.N. Books E. & P. L. AV & P. S. G. & E. Periodicals
This figure clear the image of the library chart They change it to be like this to accompany with the change of the external environment and face the new information needs. According to the change : There has been some difficulties in implementing the new structure which are: The university budget and the changes. The fear of staff members to loss their positions. And to establish a library advisory committee consisting of faculty members and students to advise the Library Director on general policy issues and services. Now proposed strategies.
proposed strategies Developing vision, goals and objectives of the organization process. Appointing a core team or a committee to lead the organization effort. Seeking the commitment of the top management is crucial for any change effort to succeed. Involving all the staff members in the process. Listening to the concerns of the departments that are being reorganized. Proving staff development opportunities as needed in the new organizational structure. Developing a new culture through integration, collaboration, trust, and innovation. Evaluating the organizational structure when it is appropriate to critically scrutinize the operations of the organization.
Developing vision, goals and objectives of the organization process. The first strategy is as you can see “developing vision, goals, and objectives of the organization process. Why is that? To ensure that all operations, divisions, and units support the information needs of users. As you can see in this figure. This is an example of how the organization should develop its vision, goals and objectives.
Appointing a core team or a committee to lead the organizationeffort. “appointing a core team or a committee to lead the organization effort” is the second strategy . Which is each team member needs to be encouraged to go beyond personal affiliation with any unit or department. The committee should think strategically from inside and outside the charge. In the figure you can see the important role of the core team that’s why they have to be encouraged to think out of the box in order to reach -----
Seeking the commitment of the top management is crucial forany change effort to succeed. The third strategy is “seeking the commitment of the top management is crucial for any change effort to succeed. As we all can see here that the management commitment should be at first , why? In order to accomplish the goals and objectives of the organization, the management commitment should be first to take the right decisions
Involving all the staff members in the process. Involving all the staff members in the process. Is the fourth strategy Many staff members might feel threatened to loss their jobs through the process. The vitality of the process needs to be highlighted. A useful technique is developing flow charts of work processes to provide all staff with a better understanding of specific operations. Staff members will be in the best position to state operational problems and will be the source of many structural answers. Staff will view change more positively when given the opportunity to participate and assume ownership for the change process.
Listening to the concerns of the departments that are being reorganized. We have to listen, “listening to the concerns of the departments that are being reorganized” is the fifth strategy which I think it is very important. It is like the feed back. Department heads may oppose reorganization because they dislike scrutiny or they fear that departmental shortcomings might be exposed. These fears are not totally unfounded and need to be addressed appropriately.
Proving staff development opportunities as needed in the neworganizational structure. “providing staff development opportunities as needed in the new organizational structure” is the sixth strategy It is important to invest an adequate amount of training time and resources into the organization programme and to schedule these activities accordingly in the implementation phases.
Developing a new culture through integration, collaboration, trust,and innovation. The seventh strategy is “developing a new culture through integration, collaboration, trust and innovations.
Evaluating the organizational structure when it is appropriate to critically scrutinize the operations of the organization. “evaluating the organizational structure when it is appropriate to critically scrutinize the operations of the organization.” is the last strategy. Which is to measure the success of the process.
conclusion At the end, there are some key factors in order to have a successful organization like: Clear vision. Staff participation and cooperation. Communications at all levels. AND Management support. Even if the library has these key factors It might face some practical problems in which the management should be willing to reconsider the positions it might have taken with the stance of understanding and compromise.
