Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic

<b>Objective</b> – This study investigated organizational culture in two academic librariesin order to propose culturally responsive strategies for developing planning andleadership initiatives. A case study conducted at the University of SaskatchewanLibrary (Shepstone & Currie, 2008...

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Main Authors: Carol Shepstone, Lyn Currie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta 2012-09-01
Series:Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/12342/14267
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author Carol Shepstone
Lyn Currie
author_facet Carol Shepstone
Lyn Currie
author_sort Carol Shepstone
collection DOAJ
description <b>Objective</b> – This study investigated organizational culture in two academic librariesin order to propose culturally responsive strategies for developing planning andleadership initiatives. A case study conducted at the University of SaskatchewanLibrary (Shepstone & Currie, 2008) was replicated at two other Canadian academiclibraries to generate some comparative data on organizational culture in Canadianacademic libraries.<br><b>Methods</b> – The Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999, 2006)provided the theoretical framework and the methodology for diagnosing andunderstanding organizational culture. The Organizational Culture AssessmentInstrument (OCAI) was administered by questionnaire to all library staff at MountRoyal University and Carleton University libraries.<br><b>Results</b> – Scores on the OCAI were used to graphically plot and describe the currentand preferred culture profiles for each library. We compared the cultures at the threelibraries and proposed strategies for initiating planning and developing leadershipthat were appropriate for the preferred cultures.<br><b>Conclusions</b> – This research demonstrates that academic library culture can be diagnosed, understood, and changed in order to enhance organizational performance. Examining organizational culture provides evidence to guide strategy development, priority setting and planning, and the development of key leadership abilities and skills. Creating culturally appropriate support mechanisms, opportunities for learning and growth, and a clear plan of action for change and improvement are critical.
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spelling doaj.art-7a912ca81cd74e5a977913214a1fc7792022-12-21T23:53:43ZengUniversity of AlbertaEvidence Based Library and Information Practice1715-720X2012-09-01735170Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the AcademicCarol ShepstoneLyn Currie<b>Objective</b> – This study investigated organizational culture in two academic librariesin order to propose culturally responsive strategies for developing planning andleadership initiatives. A case study conducted at the University of SaskatchewanLibrary (Shepstone & Currie, 2008) was replicated at two other Canadian academiclibraries to generate some comparative data on organizational culture in Canadianacademic libraries.<br><b>Methods</b> – The Competing Values Framework (Cameron & Quinn, 1999, 2006)provided the theoretical framework and the methodology for diagnosing andunderstanding organizational culture. The Organizational Culture AssessmentInstrument (OCAI) was administered by questionnaire to all library staff at MountRoyal University and Carleton University libraries.<br><b>Results</b> – Scores on the OCAI were used to graphically plot and describe the currentand preferred culture profiles for each library. We compared the cultures at the threelibraries and proposed strategies for initiating planning and developing leadershipthat were appropriate for the preferred cultures.<br><b>Conclusions</b> – This research demonstrates that academic library culture can be diagnosed, understood, and changed in order to enhance organizational performance. Examining organizational culture provides evidence to guide strategy development, priority setting and planning, and the development of key leadership abilities and skills. Creating culturally appropriate support mechanisms, opportunities for learning and growth, and a clear plan of action for change and improvement are critical.http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/12342/14267academic librariesorganizational cultureplanningleadership
spellingShingle Carol Shepstone
Lyn Currie
Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
academic libraries
organizational culture
planning
leadership
title Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
title_full Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
title_fullStr Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
title_full_unstemmed Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
title_short Mining the Cultural Evidence: Situating Planning and Leadership within the Academic
title_sort mining the cultural evidence situating planning and leadership within the academic
topic academic libraries
organizational culture
planning
leadership
url http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/12342/14267
work_keys_str_mv AT carolshepstone miningtheculturalevidencesituatingplanningandleadershipwithintheacademic
AT lyncurrie miningtheculturalevidencesituatingplanningandleadershipwithintheacademic