Poster Board Number: 182
Title: Organizational Flattening II: Results of a Survey on Organizational Flattening in Academic Health Sciences Libraries
Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of organizational flattening in academic health sciences libraries; analyze its impact, if any, on leadership development among middle managers' and compare results to a previous study conducted for MLA '09. The current study also assesses whether current organizational flattening has been related to economic impact during the last two years. Organizational flattening is defined as fewer managerial layers and is described in relation to hierarchical library structures. Organizational flattening in academic libraries is a relatively new structural adjustment and reflects the practices of some companies in corporate environments.
Methods: Using the 2009 survey, updated to allow for additional relevant factors, the current survey probes whether technology, budgetary considerations, or other internal factors produce organizational flattening. The authors survey library directors and middle managers on the occurrences of organizational flattening, the primary reason for flattening, the value of organizational titles and their use, relation, and impact on library structures, and whether titles have an impact on career advancement. The authors conduct interviews with select library directors to probe in depth the reasons for flattening local structures (or not) and efforts at leadership development among their staff.
Results and Conclusions: My results and conclusions are not complete yet.
Authors: James Shedlock, AHIP, Director; Heidi M. Nickisch Duggan, Associate Director; Galter Health Sciences Library; Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
