Watt family group on the front steps of Arilpa

From left to right (back row): unidentified lady, Mrs Watt?, Hal (baby), William Alexander Watt; (front row): Eleanor, Rhona, unidentified child.

Strategic competence : to soar above

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the case for change at Deakin University Library and the change process adopted, and to explore organisational competences and the structural and strategic outcomes achieved. The Library's change process was driven by university strategic priorities and financial exigencies.

Design/methodology/approach – Change management theory is drawn on to illustrate that the change process adopted is influenced by the state of the organisation and the state of urgency. Four steps are outlined that encapsulate the process developed by the Library. These four steps draw on a book by Kotter and Rathberger, Our Iceberg Is Melting. The concept of strategic organisational competences as proposed by Thomson and Cole is adopted.

Findings – The case study demonstrates the need to take a structural and strategic view of the organisation when developing new models of service and ways of operating. An organisation needs to develop the capacity to manage both continuous and discontinuous change. The change process has delivered improvements to the Library's strategic and functional capabilities, as well as sustainable cost savings. Client satisfaction surveys indicate the quality of service provision has not diminished.

Originality/value – The paper proposes a change process that may suit other organisations. It advocates a simple conceptualisation of the process that will aid communication with key stakeholders. Further, to achieve the desired strategic and structural outcomes, it is critical to assess the strategic competence of the organisation.

Charlie Yankos and Warren Spink

Two Socceroos in close-quarter action for their clubs. Charlie Yankos (left) and Warren Spink (right), c.1980s.

Sjel de Bruyckere

Sjel (Mike) de Bruyckere was regarded as one of the best players to come to Australia. He became a great coach, especially of children.

Leveraging leverage : how strategies can really work for you

The theme of the new Strategic Plan 2008-12 for Deakin University is the delivery of effective partnerships with a key focus on enhancing student experience. The Library has a key role in seeking new and improved ways to support the university’s teaching, learning, scholarship and research activities. Investigations of Web 2.0 technologies have pinpointed suitable applications to enhance student engagement with the Library and with information resources. Along with digital initiatives, the Library is creating intelligent collaborative and contemporary spaces to support and enhance students’ informal learning. Spaces will accommodate student-centred problem-based pedagogy and offer options for interactive group learning, quiet study and reflective zones.

This paper outlines a holistic approach adopted by Deakin University Library and reports on successes and challenges in meeting strategic outcomes to enhance student experience and learning discovery.

Open Access : How Open ? How Accessible? Symposium

Introduction: Anne Horn, University Librarian, Deakin University Library.

Presentations:
Economic impacts of open access implications from studies in Europe and the United States / John Houghton ;
Where is open access in the ARC's ERA? / John Lamp ;
Open access : an academic publisher's perspective / James Mercer.

Includes audio recording of whole Symposium : n21-Oct-Recording

Insider's guide to getting published

The 'Insider's guide to getting published' features keynote speaker Associate Professor Jeffrey Faux from Victoria University, editor of the Asian Review of Accounting and editorial board member of the Malaysian Accounting Review and the International Journal of Management Education.  Associate Professor Faux will provide tips and techniques about getting published in journals - specifically, those of leading independent publisher Emerald.

Inside guide to getting published

In this seminar Dr Georgina Kelly gave useful advice to Higher Degree students and early career researchers on “When to publish what during your PhD; publishing in conferences and journals; impact versus reputation; and how to get your paper read by others’. Professor Terry Evans spoke of the importance of ‘Being strategic about publishing with(in) a thesis: the public and accessible nature of contemporary PhD theses and the implications for publishing during candidature and for subsequent publications’. In her presentation, ‘Transitioning: riding the wave’, Associate Professor Karen Stagnitti’s drew on her experiences as an HDR student and Early Career Researcher, raising the importance of recognizing opportunities for presenting at conferences, networking and publishing. Associate Professor Rohan Bastin, discussed benefits of ‘Developing pragmatic and rewarding publishing strategies; strategies and opportunities for having multiple publication projects on the go; tailoring one's output to the esteem criteria relevant to disciplines as well as one's own esteem criteria relevant to one's specialist area’.