Being an Information Innovator

Citation

Isfandyari‐Moghaddam, A. (2012), "Being an Information Innovator", Library Review, Vol. 61 No. 1, pp. 63-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531211207460

Libraries and information centres can contribute to an increased social capital and social value of the communities that they serve. One of the main global challenges in this third millennium is to build a society where everyone can access and share information, thus enabling individuals and communities to achieve their full potential in promoting their development and improving their quality of life (Aqili and Isfandyari‐Moghaddam, 2008). In fact, Ranganathan's fifth law namely “the library is a growing organism” should include library resources, librarians and their activities. Library and Information Science (LIS) both in theory and practice, expands constantly meaning that librarians are expected to act as conductors of symphony orchestras directing a successful performance from all players (Yamazaki, 2007). Gone are the days when organizations, including libraries, could survive without innovation. All information organizations need to embrace innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit. There must be an emphasis on trying to make the world of knowledge a better and more accessible place. This is a key aim for the entire information sector.

“Being an information innovator” has been written and published to discuss and apply the theories of innovation and entrepreneurship in information organizations, such as libraries, publishers, subscription agents, and information and advice services and to promote the development of innovative and entrepreneurial behaviour at all organizational levels. It consists of five chapters. Chapter 1 “Innovation and entrepreneurship in information organizations” mainly deals with three key terms; “innovation“, “entrepreneurship”, and “creativity” showing the relationships among them. In this chapter Jennifer Rowley introduces an all‐inclusive definition of innovation (p. 7) and also defines two other concepts. She believes that central to both innovation and entrepreneurship is creativity. Chapter 2 “Innovation”, co‐authored by Anahita Baregheh, and Chapter 3 “Entrepreneurship”, co‐authored by Siwan Mitchelmore, elaborate on the concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship. The nature or degree of innovation, types of innovation, information systems, innovation orientation, innovation management, innovation diffusion and adoption, being an entrepreneur, public sector corporate entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial competencies are among the issues discussed.

Chapter 4 “Organizing for innovation” takes the theories and their foundations, as debated in previous chapters, toward implementation within an organization. There is strong emphasis on the key role of managing the process. Finally Chapter 5 “Innovation in practice” includes some suggestions on how an innovative project can be realized in an innovative organization whilst ensuring that customers and users are actively involved in the process. An innovative organization should identify the strengths of its human resources, whether customers or employees, understand the problems, find gaps in the marketplace and eventually identify a ”window of opportunity”. In this chapter some useful notes are provided to generate good ideas for innovation at the service or finished product level. The role of the feasibility study (testing and related issues) at the beginning, the importance of end‐users and their potentials, and the positive influence of networks and partnerships which all effect the successful realization of innovation‐based services are also discussed. At the end of this chapter, the role of knowledge and its management and the role information professionals can play in this area are recognized. In her closing remarks, Rowley (p. 179) argues for the wider role of information professionals in innovation in organizations, communities and societies, based on the direct relationships between knowledge, learning and innovation.

Structurally, each chapter features learning objectives, reflections, review questions, challenges, group discussion topics, summary and conclusions. As previously mentioned, in terms of content, the book deals with an important topic in this age of change, challenge, competition and economic pressure. In my opinion, this interdisciplinary work can be considered as a good starting point for those information professionals and managers who would like to introduce innovation into the workplace. It is hoped that in any future editions, more successful samples of innovative organizations and projects, innovation by information technology and the necessary skills for information professionals will be taken into consideration. Reading such a book can benefit many audiences who directly or indirectly deal with vast amounts information and knowledge ‐ librarians, archivists, students, users, university staff and managers). In the field of LIS, writing and publishing these titles can contribute to the realization of the theme of the 78th IFLA Conference “Libraries now: inspiring, surprising, empowering” (www.ifla.org/ifla78).

Do not hesitate to be an information innovator!