People management – be bold!
| Pages | 18-28 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120810844612 |
| Date | 10 January 2008 |
| Published date | 10 January 2008 |
| Author | Ian Smith |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
People management – be bold!
Ian Smith
La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to encourage managers in the rapidly changing library and information
services environment to be bold in people management.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper outlines four aspects of people management where it
is particularly important to be bold: staff selection and recruitment; training development and
workplace learning; performance management, and; organisational change.
Findings – The study reveals pointers to good management practice in the four areas which are
outlined.
Originality/value – The paper provides useful information for those in people management.
Keywords Human resourcemanagement, Organizational change,Employees, Selection,
Performancemanagement, Human resource development
Paper type Viewpoint
The proposition forming the core of this conference is that the continuing relevance
and value to our clients of library and information services lies chiefly with people –
those who are responsible for offering our services. This is a bold proposition – but one
that will resonate with all who come to this conference.
This paper addresses that core premise – recognising that the future success of any
library and information service is deeply connected to the effectiveness of the work
done by the people who have a primary role in providing those services. Academic
libraries face major challenges and opportunities that arise from the radical changes
now occurring in the ways in which information is organised and accessed. These
challenges call for bold management of the key resource in any successful library and
information services organisation – people.
Through bold people management we have a chance to fly like the phoenix. Without
bold people management our organisations risk the fate that befell the dinosaurs.
The pace of change in library and information services
Anyone reading the literature of libraries and information management or attending a
current conference or professional seminar in the field will be aware of discussion of
the accelerating pace of change in our profession. Disruptive technologies are changing
our societies and our library services in significant ways. The clients who use our
products and services use them differently to the way they were used ten, five or even
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
Presented at the Academic Librarian: Dinosaur or Phoenix; Die or Fly in Change Management
Conference, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 11-12 April 2007.
The author is a regular contributor to the Library Management journal, writing on the topic of
human resource development and organisational change management. The examples of these
articles cited in the Further reading of this article provide concise overviews of some of the topics
under discussion in this paper and pointers to further reading.
LM
29,1/2
18
Received 3 April 2007
Accepted 20 May 2007
Library Management
Vol. 29 No. 1/2, 2008
pp. 18-28
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435120810844612
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