Posts Tagged ‘Research in management’
Creativity/ Innovation Artifact
Posted on: 26/04/2012
In order to express my proficiency at being creative and innovative, I have chosen to use an individual Focus Study that I completed in my Management for Information Professionals course last semester. The subject of this Focus Study, was in fact Creativity in Management; Management Innovation. Creativity has always been a key interest of mine in my education career, even throughout my undergrad, centering on it as a theme. The concept of creativity and innovation, not only reflect on my own professional practice goals, but also in a broader sense as being a key feature that we as information professionals need to provide for our users. In my opinion, creativity is a central feature of being human. I believe that our call to develop and facilitate learning and knowledge is also tempered by fostering the innovation of others.
The focus study that I completed, primarily looked at the issue of creativity in management, how managers facilitate and cultivate that quality in their employees, and the benefits of doing so. We were assigned to write a short paper that would investigate a specific issue or topic related to management, reviewing relevant literature and synthesizes themes to a particular case study. I was inspired, upon recently watching Office Space, to review how to instill creativity into employees from a manager’s standpoint. It was interesting to look at creativity from a human resources management frame of reference, as much of my previous work was more directly involved or looking at those engaged in innovative acts.
As there is not very much research done by information professionals into developing creativity, I looked at business databases and case studies for creative, innovative management. It was interesting to me that I had to go outside of the traditional information professional/librarian outlets to locate items on creativity. This fact inclines me to believe that more research needs to be done on the role of creativity from an IP standpoint. I felt that my finished product accurately responded to the task, but I would have liked to complete a bit more in depth research into the subject. I felt that I was just barely scratching the surface of its potential.
Researching this topic has helped me see the value of looking for sources of information in a sort of round-about way. Answers are not always going to have direct information pathways, and therefore creative means must be taken to find information on various subjects, even subjects like creativity and innovation. Completing this assignment also inspired me to ensure that when I am in a position of managing people, I will be sure to foster creativity and innovation from them. That is part of my professional service that I can offer, not only to patrons, but also to my colleagues.
Reflection 8
Posted on: 28/11/2011
The readings this week were mainly about the nature of evidence in library practice. In the Watson-Boone article, she writes about different methods of research in the library field. She mentions that practioner-researchers “yield solutions, enlarge understanding of their practice, and suggest improvements for that practice”. As she details the different types of research, it is very clear that the majority of the research is to be done using quantitative, positivist methodology. While the use of qualitative data is noted in case study research, it seems that it is to be used in conjunction with quantitative data. I found this interesting because while though it is generally accepted that it is preferable to have both types of data to accompany the research, it is still considered acceptable to just have quantitative data. However, if qualitative methodology is the primary means of generating data, there seems to be an implicit frown placed upon it. I think that this stems from the positivist perspective of research and experimentation. I agreed with Brophy in his assertion that there should be a greater role of narrative data in management practice. Brophy acknowledges the value that the EBL process, outlined by Eldredge, has, but also affirms that qualitative data may be just as important. It seems that narrative data is undervalued in the evidence based librarianship. Stories that people tell can be just as convincing, if not more, than numbers. Statistical data will not stay with a person, but listening to another person’s story will continue to resonate long after hearing the account. Eldredge maintains that it is important to “integrate evidence into important decision-making”. Quantitative data is important, but it seems to me that narrative, qualitative data must be valued more as well as appropriate evidence, evidence that if need be, is able to stand on its own.
Sarah Nolan 