Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Librarians: An Endangered Species Case Study on an information ecology to understand organisations as knowledge ecologies Deborah Nanschild Management, Education & Training Consultant Doctor of Education (Workplace Learning) Deakin University

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Industrial Age to Information Age Industrial Age Information Age NowHistory

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Information Age to Knowledge Era Industrial Age NowEmergent Futures Technocratic Information Ecology History Information Age Knowledge Era

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Now: Libraries From the Outside Librarian Manager Information Request Generated Knowledge The Library Black Box

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Technocratic Future  The automatic library Librarian Manager Information Request Generated Knowledge Manager Information Request Information Request direct to the system Efficient Information Technology

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Impact Of Metaphor  Librarians an endangered species  At risk of loss  Technocratic metaphor  Information age, dominated by technology  Need for new metaphor  That takes into account all that librarians do  Myth: technology will save us  Information Ecology  Why is this endangered species important?  Knowledge generation & knowledge sharing  Shifting role to Knowledge Consultant

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Information Ecology Future Librarian (Knowledge Worker) Manager Programmer Information Request Generated Knowledge

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Implications Technocratic  Funding for machines  Funding for systems dev. & computer networks  Programmers write the instructions for functional use  Programmers determine how technology is used  Tech. the system  Technology driven  ATM libraries Information Ecology  Funding for people (knowl. workers)  Funding to support collaborative learning & k-sharing  Instructions have a learning focus with end user in mind  Work group determines what technology and why  Technology a tool  Knowledge driven  Ecological libraries

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Information Ecology Features - A system of people, practices, values & technologies in a particular local environment. -Spotlight not on technology but on human activities that are served by technology. Nardi & O’Day 1999 Information Ecologies: Using Technology with Heart  Attention on relationships involving tools & people & their practices  Strategic thought questions – “what if?”  ‘Know-why’ as well as ‘know-how’  Diversity essential to health of the ecology  Co-evolution: requires participation to sustain  K of local ecology – workplace; organisation  Guided by core values

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 The Importance of Values  A library is a place where people & technology come together in congenial relations, guided by the values in the library.  Access to information for all clients is a core value of libraries.  Values are deeply held beliefs that influence workplace culture.  Values are often tacit & unexamined yet they drive our behaviour.  People expend a lot of energy to preserve their core values.  Infringement of core values can lead to terminal conflict in teams & cause havoc in productivity & success for the organisation.  Organisational values may not reflect personal values of knowledge workers.  Values are a strong ENABLER for learning & connecting people to the organisation’s fundamental identity.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 The Importance of Values & The Learning Organisation  The capacity to learn is necessary for survival in the 21 st century.  A values-based approach to workplace learning and organisational life has potential to accelerate individual, team and organisational learning.  These are the key foci of the Learning Organisation.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 The Importance of Values & The Learning Organisation  Personal Mastery  Personal values  Team Learning  Team values  Building Shared Vision  Organisation Values  Mental Models  Values in Context  Systems Thinking  Ecological Metaphor

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 “To succeed in the new world we will all have to learn first who we are.” Drucker 2000 The development of personal and professional attributes that support the knowledge worker is a key principle upon which Professional Development in the knowledge era is based.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 PD for the future K Worker Themes:  Self motivated learning  Exposure to new ideas  Learning by doing  Conversations & networking  Challenge  Consolidation of learning Key Capabilities:  Rapid k-gathering & k- sharing  Pattern recognition, problem solving & sense making skills  Becoming designers  Contextual understanding  Research & analytical skills  Ability to acquire new skills  Productivity & creativity  Tolerance for ambiguity  Interest in life-long learning

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Situated Learning in the K Era  PD initiatives that reflect situational learning and development as an active process will have the most impact on the effectiveness of the knowledge worker.  Situated learning takes place in the same situation as that in which knowledge is to be used.  Situated k: workplace culture, social practices  Strategic k: how to decide what to do & when  Conceptual k: knowing ‘that’  Procedural k: knowing ‘how’  Personal k: knowing oneself & personal values

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Communities of Practice  Situated knowledge  Vocation based  Local ecology knowledge & workplace practices  Culture of organisation  K Workers use different learning methods  Utilise relationships to increase knowledge  Opportunities for exposure to new concepts / ideas  Co-participation (co-evolution) in k generation  Communities of Practice  Foster thinking as collaborative social practice  Activities that communicate & construct meaning  Significant forum for situated learning  Key to knowledge development & application

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 A library is an information ecology A place that transforms ‘borrowed knowledge’ into generated knowledge. Where knowledge generation and knowledge sharing through communities of practice is occurring. Where all members of the ecology are actively participating and motivated to learn.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 A library is an information ecology A place where librarians as knowledge brokers and knowledge consultants are not an endangered species. Where the library is recognised as the knowledge centre for organisational learning.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Organisations as Knowledge Ecologies Have the features of an information ecology, especially in the library. Considers how people engage their own values and commitments whilst using technology. Focuses upon relationships involving tools and people and their work practices.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Organisations as Knowledge Ecologies Are able to capture and make visible the knowledge generated by individuals through collaborative work practices. Recognise learning & knowledge generation as an organic process. Are organic rather than hierarchical structures that reflect organisations as ecosystems.

Deborah Nanschild October 2004 Knowledge Organisations look like Knowledge Ecologies “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead