Transformation and research trends: dictated by preference Prof Ina Fourie Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria

Why think about it? To change the form of… To change the form of… A complete change… organisation A complete change… organisation South Africa South Africa Ubuntu Ubuntu Better, prettier, nicer, more effective, exemplary,… Better, prettier, nicer, more effective, exemplary,… We ALL have resources for transformation We ALL have resources for transformation Knowledge, open & pragmatic minds, self-knowledge, determination & honesty Knowledge, open & pragmatic minds, self-knowledge, determination & honesty

Who needs to think about transformation? Profession Profession Management Management Teams Teams Staff Staff Different levels of “research” required Different levels of “research” required Variety of research trends & understandings required Variety of research trends & understandings required Need to note the context / environment (globally & nationally) Vision, buying-in, contributions on smaller scale

Understanding LIS professional understanding Titles, keywords, implied in the context Titles, keywords, implied in the context Do we make time to search and reflect? Do we make time to search and reflect? LIS databases (EBSCOHost: Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts), discussion lists, weblogs, journal TOCs, conferences LIS databases (EBSCOHost: Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts), discussion lists, weblogs, journal TOCs, conferences Environmental issues: economic, political… Environmental issues: economic, political… Need to grasp complexity, diversity and gaps (cont.) Need to grasp complexity, diversity and gaps (cont.)

Understanding (cont.) LIS professional understanding Understanding Scope & meaning Philosophy… Management… Vision, service… Personal growth… Seeking Information, evidence, knowledge… Opinions, research reports (failures & successes), legislation, … Systematic reviews Alerting services Collaboration Tools, methods, theories…

Understanding (cont.) LIS professional understanding – Trends South Africa: 1994 – 1997, organisational, services – linked to political changes – addressing inequalities South Africa: 1994 – 1997, organisational, services – linked to political changes – addressing inequalities Africa: impact of Internet… Africa: impact of Internet… International: organisation, building, serials, cataloguing, acquisitions, profession, education, information literacy… (cont.) International: organisation, building, serials, cataloguing, acquisitions, profession, education, information literacy… (cont.)

Understanding (cont.) LIS professional understanding – successes and failures LIS professional understanding – finer detail and specifics

Understanding (cont.) Potential researcher’s understanding Personality Personality Learning style Learning style Self efficacy Self efficacy Beliefs Beliefs Commitment & dedication Commitment & dedication Knowledge, skills, creativity, Knowledge, skills, creativity, resourcefulness resourcefulness Difficult to change Need to identify & work on

Understanding (cont.) Potential researcher’s understanding Allowing people to focus on specific dimensions most suitable to them… Allowing people to focus on specific dimensions most suitable to them… Getting individuals at all levels involved in “small scale” research might improve success of transformation Getting individuals at all levels involved in “small scale” research might improve success of transformation

Research agendas concerning transformation Visionary – organisational change, impact on human resources, moving & motivating people, learning organisation, etc. Visionary – organisational change, impact on human resources, moving & motivating people, learning organisation, etc. Worldview, experience, … Worldview, experience, … Choices: (holistic view of) trends or preferences? (cont.) Choices: (holistic view of) trends or preferences? (cont.)

Research agendas concerning transformation (cont.) Processes & services (e.g. cataloguing, acquisitions, training, reference services) Processes & services (e.g. cataloguing, acquisitions, training, reference services) Choices: Note trends, unavoidable… Choices: Note trends, unavoidable… Allow for personal preferences regarding finer aspects Allow for personal preferences regarding finer aspects Human resources: change management & changing mindsets Human resources: change management & changing mindsets

Choices for research Depend on what we are monitoring & noting Depend on what we are monitoring & noting Environmental scanning, scenario building, collection of data on user needs, etc. Environmental scanning, scenario building, collection of data on user needs, etc. How we are noting: individual work (e.g. post- graduate study), collaboration, networking, etc. How we are noting: individual work (e.g. post- graduate study), collaboration, networking, etc.

Transformation and mindsets About changing mindsets – often large scale levels About changing mindsets – often large scale levels Cannot escape on the impact of Cannot escape on the impact of mindsets mindsets learning styles learning styles worldviews, etc. worldviews, etc. and the choices we make

Acknowledging… Resources for gathering information (and their inadequacies) Resources for gathering information (and their inadequacies) Shaping impressions of the wider environment Shaping impressions of the wider environment Rationale for choices Rationale for choices Information used for “research” – what do we really “see” Information used for “research” – what do we really “see” BALANCE BALANCE

Admitting… Preferences (e.g. focus, tools, methods) Preferences (e.g. focus, tools, methods) Shortcomings Shortcomings Need to learn from others Need to learn from others Experiences Experiences Learning from failures… in context… as framework for improvement Learning from failures… in context… as framework for improvement

Committing… Monitoring trends --- on a scale appropriate to role in transformation Monitoring trends --- on a scale appropriate to role in transformation Improving ability to move beyond personal preferences Improving ability to move beyond personal preferences Systematic refinement of required skills Systematic refinement of required skills Publishing research results in a context that can ensure ongoing transformation of the LIS research culture Publishing research results in a context that can ensure ongoing transformation of the LIS research culture

Conclusion There are some trends in reports on large scale organisational transformation There are some trends in reports on large scale organisational transformation There are many trends in reports on facets relevant to the LIS profession & wider environment There are many trends in reports on facets relevant to the LIS profession & wider environment We cannot escape the impact of personal preferences – but we can use it to our benefit We cannot escape the impact of personal preferences – but we can use it to our benefit

Thank you for your attention Prof Ina Fourie Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria (012)