Organized chaos
| Pages | 130-136 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-05-2016-0012 |
| Published date | 08 August 2016 |
| Date | 08 August 2016 |
| Author | Robert Fox |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
DIGITAL LIBRARIES: THE SYSTEMS
ANALYSIS PERSPECTIVE
Organized chaos
Robert Fox
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Abstract
Purpose – There are valuable lessons that can be learned from the software industry regarding
process improvement. The modern library is now so closely wedded to technology that the way in which
services are implemented mirrors that of software development.
Design/methodology/approach – Several methodologies are explored and compared to processes
that involve the implementation of digital services in libraries.
Findings – Libraries have reconsidered how they might adopt various business practices to improve
service delivery.
Originality/value – This column advocates a study of software development methodologies that
have been adopted across the industry with the hope that lessons learned in the corporate world and also
in manufacturing could be of value to the digital library.
Keywords Process improvement, Software development, Agile methodology,
Iterative development, Software development methodology, Spiral development
Paper type Conceptual paper
It has become almost an obsession in modern culture to perseverate on method. There
are many synonyms for this obsession: process improvement, process maturity,
continuous improvement, business performance improvement, total productive
maintenance, quality management, etc. A contemporaneous bevy of seminars and
programs designed to help management teams to enable process improvement has also
been spawned that enables this obsession. Examples include the six sigma program and
the “Lean” programs that offer certications or the ability to earn “belts” which are
analogous to the levels of advancement common to the martial arts. As an industry,
software development processes are also constantly under a certain level of scrutiny to
derive the highest levels of efciency concerning time and effort.
Different types of currencies can be used to quantify various types of work. Currency
in this sense is used broadly to indicate a medium of exchange to achieve the optimal
outcome. Within the industry, aspects of production such as material usage, hourly
wages, overhead and time are examples of the currency used to measure the cost of
operations. Libraries have traditionally had a mix of operational work that takes
place on a daily basis, most of which involve somewhat complex processes that have for
the most part remained static for a long time. Certain operative activities, such as the
acquisition on materials, the handling of license agreements, the cataloging and storage
of large quantities of bibliographic materials, and the consequent circulation of physical
media are all process-based. Although most of these processes will continue into the
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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DLP
32,3
130
Received 4 May 2016
Accepted 4 May 2016
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.32 No. 3, 2016
pp.130-136
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-05-2016-0012
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