Short answer
When introducing new technologies or digital formats, proactively plan for staff training, workflow adaptation, and address any systemic barriers to adoption.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås) (2014)
- Method
- Qualitative research
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
The integration of digital resources like e-books necessitates the acquisition of new skills and adaptation of workflows for collection development professionals. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2014 study published in Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås). Using Qualitative research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When introducing new technologies or digital formats, proactively plan for staff training, workflow adaptation, and address any systemic barriers to adoption.
Digital Transition Demands New Skillsets for Collection Development Professionals
The integration of digital resources like e-books necessitates the acquisition of new skills and adaptation of workflows for collection development professionals.
Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås) · 2014
Key Findings
- 01Librarians face challenges in developing new collection policies.
- 02Acquiring new skills and adapting to new workflows are necessary.
- 03Increased workloads are a consequence of e-book integration.
- 04Low availability of e-textbooks, high VAT on e-books, and lack of consolidated purchasing platforms are significant acquisition barriers.
- 05Concerns exist regarding the future role of academic libraries in the e-book acquisition landscape.
Application
Design takeaway
When introducing new technologies or digital formats, proactively plan for staff training, workflow adaptation, and address any systemic barriers to adoption.
How to apply
When implementing a new digital service or product, conduct a skills gap analysis for your team and develop a training plan. Map out existing workflows and identify how the new technology will integrate, redesigning processes as needed.
Project actions
- 01When researching new technologies, consider the human element – how will people adapt?
- 02Think about the practical challenges of implementing new systems, not just the benefits.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a practical, on-the-ground perspective from professionals.
- +Applies relevant theoretical frameworks (diffusion of innovation, change management).
Limitations
This study focused on libraries, so the findings might be different for other industries. The VAT issue is specific to certain regions.
Reliability & validity
The use of semi-structured interviews allows for in-depth exploration, enhancing validity. However, the sample size and specific context may limit generalizability, potentially affecting reliability across different settings.
Think critically
To what extent do the 'challenges' identified in this study represent fundamental flaws in the e-book acquisition model, versus temporary hurdles in a period of transition?
Design Principles
"Embrace change by investing in human capital and process optimization."
This insight is crucial for organizations undergoing digital transformation. It highlights that successful adoption of new technologies requires a proactive approach to upskilling staff and redesigning operational processes to accommodate the changes.
What This Means for Your Design
When libraries started getting e-books, librarians had to learn new skills and change how they did their jobs, which was hard but they were still excited about the new technology.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify the need for training or process changes in your own design project if it involves new technology adoption.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The transition to digital resources, as evidenced in academic libraries, highlights the critical need for proactive adaptation. Professionals must acquire new skills and adjust workflows to effectively manage digital collections, facing challenges such as resource availability and policy development. This underscores the importance of investing in staff training and process re-engineering when implementing technological advancements in any design project.
Source
Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås)
E-books in Irish University Libraries: Changes and challenges in collection development and acquisitions
journal · 2014
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about digital transition demands new skillsets for collection development professionals?
- When introducing new technologies or digital formats, proactively plan for staff training, workflow adaptation, and address any systemic barriers to adoption. Evidence: Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås) (2014).
- Why does "Digital Transition Demands New Skillsets for Collection Development Professionals" matter for design?
- This insight is crucial for organizations undergoing digital transformation. It highlights that successful adoption of new technologies requires a proactive approach to upskilling staff and redesigning operational processes to accommodate the changes.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When introducing new technologies or digital formats, proactively plan for staff training, workflow adaptation, and address any systemic barriers to adoption.
- What were the main findings?
- Librarians face challenges in developing new collection policies.. Acquiring new skills and adapting to new workflows are necessary.. Increased workloads are a consequence of e-book integration.. Low availability of e-textbooks, high VAT on e-books, and lack of consolidated purchasing platforms are significant acquisition barriers.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2014 journal from Borås Academic Digital Archive (University of Borås).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When implementing a new digital service or product, conduct a skills gap analysis for your team and develop a training plan. Map out existing workflows and identify how the new technology will integrate, redesigning processes as needed.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is specific to Irish university libraries and may not be generalizable to all library types or geographical regions. The findings are based on perceptions and experiences, which can be subjective.