SLAIS Libr 504 Management of Information Organizations Organizational Culture and Leadership Lynn Copeland Simon Fraser University Library Feb. 7, 2008

Culture of a group Shared basic assumptions Learned by group Response to external and internal Works ‘well enough’ Taught to new members

Organizational culture Artifacts Espoused beliefs and values Underlying assumptions

Institutional cultures UBC ‘Canada’s number 1 university’ Trek 2010 SFU ‘Thinking of the world’ ‘Radical campus’ VCC ‘BC’s number 1 college’ 40 years: improve lives, job opps, career prospects

Leadership process of communication that involves coaching, motivating/inspiring, directing/ guiding, and supporting/counseling others. This results in the timely production of predetermined organization goals. Includes: behaviour, personal characteristics, situations

[good] Leadership 4 characteristics (Bennis) provide direction and meaning Keep team aware of important stated goals and objectives prefer action and risk taking communicators of hope Listen?

Leadership types Fact-based Creativity based Feelings-based Control/power based A good leader has all four

Leadership Environment Each person different (personality, abilities aptitudes, skills) Therefore each task is different for each person Therefore managing each process/task is different for manager

Stereotypical examples Systems: Like everything spelled out Directive communication Intolerant of ambiguity Reference Like to discuss alternatives, try things out, rethink ‘Speak for users’ Cataloguers ‘follow the rules’ Loans staff ‘follow procedures’

More stereotypes in ULs’ welcome UBC Library Focus on size, collections SFU Library ‘Our Library is where YOU are’ VCC ‘offer our students and staff the best service possible’

Communication “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” -- George Bernard Shaw (as quoted over staff copy machine)

SFU Library About 150 FTE employees About 40 FTE librarians About 13 Prof/supervisory

SFU Library

Questions Communication: How do you communicate effectively in a large organization? How do you receive communications effectively in a large organization? How do you ensure that people perceive both have taken place? How do you ensure the messages get all the way down/up the chain?

Questions What do you communicate about? Information exchange What are good communication vehicles? Informal vs formal communication

Formal Strategic planning process Senior hiring process Organizational: Library Council

Informal Staff development day ‘Appreciation’ events Oct. 19 Library support staff day Ice cream in the parking lot CLA staff appreciation proclamation Regular meeting with staff Brown bag lunches

Is there a librarian culture? Collaborative User focussed Innovative Self righteous? Culture bound? Passive aggressive, whiny?

If you want to be an academic librarian: intellectual interests technology skills (Web, database, large complex systems, local area networks) interest in planning, management analytical people a ‘get on with it’ approach to problem solving maturity inclusive, service-focussed (the customer is always right) communicators, listening, negotiating skills energetic sense of humor people with ideas, flexible balanced involvement in professional activities

Communication around dramatic events Each situation different Often situation contextual (university-wide) Policies in place to cover generic Safety paramount Legal issues – agreements, laws Emotions Ultimate goal is return to normalcy

Thanks! Questions, Comments? Lynn Copeland Dean of Library Services, SFU