A qualitative study of barriers to innovation in academic libraries in Taiwan
| Published date | 12 August 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-05-2018-0042 |
| Pages | 402-415 |
| Date | 12 August 2019 |
| Author | Fu-Hsuan Chuang,Hui-Chuan Weng,Pao-Nuan Hsieh |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
A qualitative study of barriers
to innovation in academic
libraries in Taiwan
Fu-Hsuan Chuang
Department of Library and Information Science,
National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Hui-Chuan Weng
Center for General Education,
Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan and
Department of Library and Information Science,
National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, and
Pao-Nuan Hsieh
Department of Library and Information Science,
National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore innovation barriers in academic libraries. Through
analysis of barriers to innovation, the authors can further elucidate the nature of innovation in academic
library settings, which can help remove factors that hamper innovation.
Design/methodology/approach –Using a qualitative case study to explore the innovation processes for
two academic libraries, this study includes interviews with 28 interviewees, from senior leadership positions
to practical librarians, to analyze the barriers to innovation they have experienced.
Findings –Building on a literature review, this study proposes a barrier to innovation framework for
academic libraries. The qualitative findings identified two specific barrier types that academic libraries face,
environmental and organizational barriers, identifying 19 barrier factors that intertwine to yield seven
dimensions across the two levels of analysis. It is advised that library leadership team should both encourage
innovative behaviors and eliminate the innovation barriers to enhance library innovation capacities.
Originality/value –The insights from this study can help the library managers of academic libraries to
develop preemptive actions for dealing with various barrier scenarios, and thereby enhance possibilities of
successful innovations.
Keywords Leadership, Innovation, Academic libraries, Library innovation, Innovation barriers,
Innovation capacity
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Innovation is a crucial strategy for modern organizations pursuing differentiation and
competitive advantages. Academic libraries have adjusted existing services and developed
new ones in response to rapid changes in higher education environments and innovative
educationaltechnologies. Brundy (2015)notes that academic librariesare under great pressure
to innovate and emphasizes that innovation has moved from a consideration to a necessity.
Accordingly,scholars have explored thekey factors that enhance the library’si nnovativeness.
However, academic libraries may face various challenges and obstacles that directly or
indirectly affect the success of the innovation process. Studies on barriers to innovation have
explored the tensions, conflicts and dilemmas faced throughout the implementation of
innovations through innovation failures and by analyzing and extracting the elements that
facilitate the capacity for innovation (Hueske et al., 2015; Mirow et al., 2008; Storey, 2000).
Rowley (2011b) indicates that there has been little discussion of innovation and its
processes among library professionals, limiting opportunities of learning from each other’s
Library Management
Vol. 40 No. 6/7, 2019
pp. 402-415
© Emerald PublishingLimited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/LM-05-2018-0042
Received 21 May 2018
Accepted 21 March 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
402
LM
40,6/7
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