7 tactics to gain big savings through collaboration
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
7 Tactics to Gain Big Savings through Collaboration:\Can we bravely take risks?
Stephen AbramWeb 2.014Oct. 8,2014
7 Tactics to Gain Big Savings through Collaboration: Can we bravely take risks?
Budgets are under pressure in all sectors of librarianship. That seems to be a given in today's fiscal environment globally. Do we do more with less, less with less, or do we rethink our business models. Libraries aren't businesses, but as social enterprises we must be businesslike. Many of our consortia are mere buying clubs but some are stepping up the plate to rise to new levels of cooperation and collaboration. Some library systems compete more internally for resources than engage in win-win partnerships. Stephen, gives seven examples (Lucky Number 7!) of opportunities for great savings while increasing productivity, impact, and the value of library services. And there are side-benefits that allow for the freeing of talented staff for time to work on the important projects that discover our future. It is within our wheelhouse to be greater than we are and to manage our budgets better through more collaboration and innovative partnerships and sharing. Isn't that what libraries are all about anyway?!
Where I’m coming from…
The Obligatory Definitions Collaboration the action of working with someone to produce
or create something. Wikipedia -- “Collaboration refers abstractly
to all processes wherein people work together.”Oxford Dictionary -- “United labour, co-operation; especially in literary, artistic or scientific work.”Webster -- “To work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor.”
The Obligatory Definitions Collaborator A person who works jointly on an
activity or project; an associate.
The Obligatory Definitions Risk and Risk Taking A person or thing regarded as likely to
turn out well or badly in a particular context or respect.
The Obligatory Definitions Risk Taker Someone who risks loss or injury in the ho
pe of gain or excitement
Not a bad definition… Collaboration is highly diversified teams
working together inside and outside a company with the purpose to create value by improving innovation, customer relationships and efficiency while leveraging technology for effective interactions in the virtual and physical space. (Cisco)
What Collaboration is NOT Used interchangeably with
“innovation” – There is clearly some confusion with the relationship between collaboration and innovation. By being innovative you aren’t necessarily being collaborative and vise versa. There are interdependencies between the two but they are not the same thing.
Collaboration is NOT Simple Cooperation A Buying Club Old-style Consortia Teamwork A Confederation of Equals
Collaboration IS… Collaboration is both a process and an
outcome for people and by people who work together to create value and solutions they could not create individually.
Collaboration IS … Goal driven Common goal(s) Agreed goal(s) Measurable (caution – a measurement
such as savings, client growth or surpluses are not goals but measurements of goals achieved.)
The BIG decision Bad collaboration is a waste time and
resources and produces no results. Deciding not to collaborate is a better option than bad collaboration.
Basic Principles Win Win Win Failure as milestones and learning moments A partnership of equitable participation (not
necessarily equal and no junior partners) Everyone has a valid role or isn’t invited Everyone brings something of value to the
table Openness Shared technology (as a tool) Risk – no one dies(!)
Teeny Bit of Library History Various levels of success… OCLC – global non-profit ‘co-operative’ Open Source initiatives Consortia Associations Vaults and standards Infrastructure Data collection (e.g. IMLS, ODI, ARL, etc.)
Collaboration Technology ToolsKnowledge Management Intranet ToolsBookmark Sharing Systemse-Book Management SystemsPresentation Management SystemsCourse Management SystemsLearning Management SystemsCollaboration EnvironmentsSocial Networking
Obligatory Dilbert
Barriers(?) Culture Turf and Competition, Hoarding Bad History Not Invented Here Failure to Act Lack of a common vision Leadership Gaps Competency Gap Minimal Organization Structure links Over coalitioned community Cash Investment viewed for short-term benefit 20th C rules applied to 21st C context
7 Tactics aimed at Results
What is it? What outputs do
we need to achieve?
How do we adapt over the longer term, maintain relevance, and evolve?
What are the Benefits?
Scalability Sustainability Replicability Measureable
Success
Tactic One
What is it?What are the Benefits?
The Cloud and Our Back Room
Tactic Two
What is it? Integrated
marketing and communication that is opt-in and driven in a cost-effective way
Branding Communication Cost-effective Integrated story-
engine
What are the Benefits?
Social Networks & Community Engagement
Tactic Three
What is it? Beacons are
awesome (latest shiny thing)
NFC, post QR codes
Everything digital Can be interactive
Hyper-local Contextual Inexpensive
What are the Benefits?
Beacons and Reaching Out
Tactic Four
What is it? Public Opinion Technology Trends Market Research Local
demographics Economic Studies
Less cost per system
More knowledge driving decision-making
What are the Benefits?
Research for Ourselves
Tactic Five
What is it? Responsive design Multi-platform Multi-device National and Global –
not a per-library system island
Shared library cards and cardholders
E-Commerce
Distribution Diffusion Initial Development Long term upgrades
as the word adapts and changes
What are the Benefits?
Mobile and Avoiding Isolation
Tactic Six
What is it? Program ideas LibGuide
Frameworks Website Templates API Vaults Document
Libraries
Speed to implementation
What are the Benefits?
Program Replicability & Diffusion
Tactic Seven
What is it? Shared state- or
province-wide LMS Self directed Competency-based and
needs gaps analyzed Mentoring Hundreds of trainers and
programs Supervisor involvement
Shared Structure Saveability Coordination Asynchronous and
Asymetrical 24/7/365 Certifcates
What are the Benefits?
Staff Training and Community Programs
The List of Opportunities1. The Cloud and Our Back Room2. Social Networks and Community
Engagement3. Beacons and Reaching Out4. Research for Ourselves5. Mobile and Avoiding Isolation6. Program Replicability and diffusion7. Staff Training and Virtual Programming
Manifesto Start to collaborate more! Address and align with the culture Agree on the outcomes Remove the barriers
Takeaways Collaborate for Results (but know your real
measurements) Define the REAL problem (not the
measurement) Focus on the Long Term (But know your
milestones) Spot and tear down barriers Keep competition on the outside, collaboration
on the inside Focus on people and culture, not just tools and
technology Celebrate successes along the way
Stephen AbramLighthouse [email protected]@sabramStephen’s Lighthouse blog416-669-4855