Systematic performance measurement for university libraries in Vietnam
| Published date | 26 October 2010 |
| Pages | 702-716 |
| Date | 26 October 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121011093469 |
| Author | Thoah Kim Thi Ninh,Kerry Tanner,Graeme Johanson,Tom Denison |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Systematic performance
measurement for university
libraries in Vietnam
Thoah Kim Thi Ninh, Kerry Tanner, Graeme Johanson and
Tom Denison
Faculty of Information Technology, Caulfield School of Information Technology,
Monash University, Caulfield East, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – Higher education reform in Vietnam has recently required university libraries to improve
their quality, to evaluate their performance, and to be accountable for the purpose of quality
assessment and accreditation. Systematic performance measurement is an integral part of this process.
The aims of this paper are: to provide an overview of the current state of performance development in
Vietnamese university libraries; to address issues related to the measurement of library performance;
and to propose an approach to evaluation for university libraries in Vietnam.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the literature on library performance
measurement, with particular focus on university libraries in Vietnam. Relevant documents relating to
performance measurement were examined, and two case studies of performance measurement in
university libraries in Vietnam were carried out.
Findings – It is critical that university libraries in Vietnam develop systematic performance
measures and apply different methods and tools for performance measurement. To succeed,
cooperation between the administering authority, university administration and library management
is essential.
Research limitations/implications – This paper reports on the first phase of a doctoral research
project at Monash University. Further research is being undertaken to develop a framework for quality
assurance and performance measurement for Vietnamese university libraries. The efficacy if this
framework is yet to be tested through its deployment in practice.
Originality/value – While performance measurement is well established in Western countries, it is
less so in Vietnam. The current research is seeking to develop a performance measurement framework
for university libraries that is attuned to the Vietnamese context. The paper stresses the urgent need
for the development of effective performance measures and systematic performance measurement
systems amongst this sector.
Keywords Performancemeasurement (quality), Quality indicators, University libraries, Vietnam
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Performance measurement of library and information organisations is an important
managerial activity. This activity is defined as “the process of systematically assessing
effectiveness against a predetermined norm, standard or expressed goal” (Cronin,
1982). In other words, performance measurement is the comparison of actual levels of
performance with pre-established target levels of performance (Slizyte and
Bakanauskiene, 2007).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0143-5124.htm
LM
31,8/9
702
Received 5 February 2010
Revised 11 April 2010
Accepted 14 April 2010
Library Management
Vol. 31 No. 8/9, 2010
pp. 702-716
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0143-5124
DOI 10.1108/01435121011093469
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