Course Description


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LIS 9005B-003 (Winter 2012)  Managing and Working in Information Organizations

Instructor: M. Joyce

Relationship to the Goals and Objectives of the MLIS Program
Students who complete this course will be able to:
  1. demonstrate a critical awareness of contemporary administrative and organizational principles with reference to the information workplace (from Goal 2, Obj. 1f);
  2. communicate and work cooperatively and effectively with others, including users, colleagues, employers, and members of the community (from Goal 2, Obj. 1j );
  3. demonstrate an awareness of professional values and standards (from Goal 2, Obj. 1a);
  4. respond to change in a spirit of intellectual inquiry (from Goal 2, Obj. 1b).

Goals and Objectives of the MLIS Program

Course Description
Building on the MLIS core, this course offers a critical perspective on issues involved in managing and working in contemporary information organizations. Students will be introduced to theory and practice in organizational design and culture, strategic planning, financial management, human resources, labour-management relations, policy and ethical challenges, leadership, and communication.

Distance offering.  Enrollment limit 20.  Students on co-op will be given preference in registration.

Course Objectives
  1. To develop an understanding of the principles of management as practised in libraries and information centres.
  2. To develop skills in the planning, organizing, personnel management, leading and coordinating functions in libraries and information centres.
  3. To promote critical thinking and reflexivity about professional practice as managers of libraries and information centres.

Sample Content (for information only)
Overview
1.1 The contemporary information intensive work place
1.2 Review of governance structures
1.3 Differences between public and private sector organizations - principles and practices
Planning
Discussion of the proceeding planning processes identified will include design, implementation and evaluation elements:
2.1 Strategic planning
2.2 Organizational planning
2.3 Program Planning
Organizing
3.1 Organizational design
3.2 Job analysis and design
3.3 Formal and informal organizational culture
Human Resources
4.1 Recruitment, selection and performance appraisal
4.2 Labour-management relations
4.3 Coaching and mentoring
4.4 Diversity issues
4.5 Equity issues
Leading
5.1 Types of leadership and administrative models
5.2 Motivation, leadership and team building
Financial Management
6.1 Internal (Capital and operating budgeting, resource allocation, evaluation)
6.2 External (sources of capital and operating fundraising, understanding the audience)
Communicating
7.1 Internal (staff, Board)
7.2 External (community, media, other levels of government, professional groups)
Special topics
8.3 Managing Technology

Sample Readings
Fisher, K.E., Saxton, M. L., Edwards, P. M. & Mai, J. (2007). Seattle Public Library as place: Reconceptualizing space, community, and information at the central library. In J.E. Buschman and G. J. Leckie (eds.) The Library as Place (Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited), 135-160.

Klinck, C.A. (2004). Hierarchical to vertical: public library organization development. In E.D. Garten, D.E. Williams and J.M. Nyce (eds.) Advances in Library Administration and Organization, 21, 163-179.

Kaspar, W.A. and Mosley, P.A. (2008). Making the good hire: Updating hiring practices for the contemporary multigenerational workforce, part one. Library Administration & Management, 22(2), 92-99.

O'Connor, M. (2006). A Review of Factors Affecting Individual Performance in Team Environments: Theories and Implications for Library Management. Library Management, 27(3), 135-143.

Balser, D. & McClusky, J. (2005). Managing stakeholder relationships and nonprofit organization effectiveness. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 15(3), 295-315.



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