Implementation of Organizational Innovation: : Studies of Academic and Research Libraries

Citation

Hodes, J. (1998), "Implementation of Organizational Innovation: : Studies of Academic and Research Libraries", Asian Libraries, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 24-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/al.1998.7.1.24.2

Introducing innovation can be a stressful time for managers. In these times of tight budgets, increasing customer expectations and the belief that technology will always find a way, library managers are usually found looking to innovation as a means of coping with the demands made upon the library by its stakeholder groups. Clayton’s book examines how well libraries have coped with the implementation of innovation and whether any critical success factors can be identified.

He has used the case study method for this investigation. Case studies seem so easy to do that the method is quite popular with researchers. Unfortunately, such studies are often done so poorly that past practice has given the methodology a bad name, and with it the reputation of all library science research suffers. One of the many merits of this book is that Clayton’s case studies will help restore faith in the method by showing how it should be done and what results can be achieved when it is done properly.

Although this book is not formally separated into two parts, it has the feel of two halves about it. After a useful introductory chapter, the next four chapters examine the enabling conditions for the successful implementation of an innovation, and it is here that Clayton’s most fascinating material can be found. Basing his conclusions entirely upon the case studies (as he should) he has drawn up a series of ‘propositions’ in which he lists the factors he believes most favour successful implementation. Chapter 2 looks at the likelihood of the attributes of the innovation itself contributing to successful implementation, and seven attributes are identified. Clayton started by using Rogers’ list of five attributes, then added to and deleted from the list as his research proceeded. Chapter 3 concludes that the success of implementation is increased by the adequate availability of four key resources (materials, knowledge and skills, personnel, time). Chapters 4 and 5 consider the characteristics of the organisation and the characteristics of the staff implementing the innovation.

Chapters 6 and 7, which begin the second half of the book, deal with strategies. Clayton has created models for implementing innovation, and, although this material becomes quite theoretical at times, it is nonetheless always readable. Even though his aim is to produce a theory of implementation, Clayton is not daft enough to think that theory will always work in practice. The circumstances surrounding the implementation are considered at every turn and are regarded as “mediating” between his key theories and the actual success of implementation. What the manager needs, the author concludes, is a “well‐stocked toolbox” of strategies in order to be ready for any eventuality.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. All library managers sooner or later will have to implement change; as Clayton has pointed out, it is essential to “expect the unexpected”, so some familiarity with what may lie ahead must be better than none. The book has an author and a subject index, plus a substantial bibliography. It is a pleasure to see such fine research coming out of Australasia. Library science lecturers will very likely wish to use Clayton’s work in management courses, and every library supporting a library school must buy a copy of this title.

Philip Calvert

Nanyang Technological University

Counterpoise

American Library Association, Social Responsibilities Round Table, Alternatives in Print Task Force, Vol. 1 No. 1, Gainesville, FL, 1997, quarterly, ISSN 10920714, US$35.00 to libraries, US$25.00 to individuals

Counterpoise is a new journal dedicated to the alternative press, that “enormous body of books, pamphlets, magazines, and audiovisual and electronic materials presenting socially responsible knowledge, points of view and choices. Its ideas and publications are often ignored, misrepresented or suppressed by corporate and government media and are overlooked by schools, universities and libraries worldwide.” This journal intends to describe, criticise, defend and promote these publications and products.

The journal is divided into various sections, including features and essays, print resources, non‐print resources, bibliographic tools and indexes. The most valuable part of this publication is its reviews. The print resources are divided into reference, books, pamphlets and magazines, while the non‐print resources are arranged by videos and CD‐ROM. There are 13 reference reviews, 43 book reviews, 16 pamphlet reviews, 29 magazine reviews, four video reviews and three CD‐ROM reviews. All include bibliographic details, and the analyses are written in the form of signed reviews or else incorporated with acknowledgment from previously published reviews. Fourteen reviews of bibliographic tools for the alternative press are also provided.

An index of publishers for all items reviewed in the magazine is included as a separate index. This is useful, as by definition this type of material is often obscure or hard to track down. Other indexes are an author/title index of reviews and a subject index. From glancing at the subject index it can readily be seen that the scope extends beyond North America, with nine of the reviewed items having relevance to Australasia, 12 to Africa, 24 to Europe and 19 to Asia. Another useful feature of the journal is its advertising, with several alternative publishers promoting their titles.

All in all this is a useful addition to the literature for those with an interest in alternative materials and who have trouble locating them through the mainstream publishers’ catalogues and bibliographic tools.