Management: Principles, Functions, Schools of Thought
The classic functions of management, as formulated by Henri Fayol and refined by later theorists, are commonly summarised as POSDCORB — Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, and Budgeting.
| School of thought | Key idea |
|---|---|
| Classical/Scientific (Taylor, Fayol) | Efficiency through standardisation, division of labour, clear hierarchy |
| Human Relations (Mayo) | Worker motivation and productivity depend on social/psychological factors, not just conditions |
| Systems approach | Organisation as an interrelated system interacting with its environment |
| Contingency approach | No single best way to manage; the right approach depends on the situation |
Library and Information Centre Management
- Book selection follows tools like reviews, publishers' catalogues, and selection principles (demand, quality, relevance to the collection policy).
- Acquisition — purchase, gift, exchange, or legal deposit procedures for adding material.
- Technical processing — classification, cataloguing, and physical processing before shelving.
- Circulation — issue, return, renewal, and reservation of materials to users.
- Serial control — tracking receipt, claiming missing issues, and binding of periodicals.
- Maintenance and Stock Verification — periodic physical checking of the collection against records.
- Preservation and Conservation — protecting materials from physical, chemical, and biological hazards (humidity, pests, acidic paper) through controlled environment and repair.
Human Resource Management
Covers the full staffing cycle: Planning (forecasting staff needs), Job Analysis and Job Description (defining duties and requirements), Job Evaluation (determining relative worth of positions), Recruitment and Selection, Motivation, Training and Development, and Performance Appraisal, all typically documented in a Staff Manual.
Financial Management in Libraries
- Sources of finance — parent institution grants, government funding, endowments, user fees.
- Budgeting methods — line-item budgeting, performance budgeting, zero-based budgeting, programme budgeting.
- Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis — comparing the cost of a service against the value/benefit it delivers.
- Annual Reports and Statistics — document performance and justify continued/expanded funding to the Library Authority and Committee.
Project Management Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SWOT | Analyses Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats of a project/organisation |
| PEST | Analyses Political, Economic, Social, Technological external factors |
| PERT | Programme Evaluation and Review Technique — models project tasks as a probabilistic network to estimate completion time |
| CPM | Critical Path Method — identifies the longest sequence of dependent tasks determining minimum project duration |
Total Quality Management (TQM)
TQM is a management philosophy of continuous improvement driven by customer (user) satisfaction, involving every employee and process. Six Sigma is a data-driven quality methodology aiming to minimise defects/errors to a near-zero statistical level. In libraries, TQM principles feed into systematic evaluation of services using user satisfaction surveys and performance indicators.
Library Building, Furniture and Equipment
- Green Library Building — energy-efficient design, natural lighting, sustainable materials.
- Information Commons — a flexible, technology-rich space combining library, computing, and collaborative study facilities.
- Makerspace — a hands-on area with tools (3D printers, electronics kits) for creation and experimentation.
- Security and Safety — theft-detection systems, fire safety, and access control.
MIS, MBO, and Disaster/Crisis Management
- MIS (Management Information System) — a system providing managers with the information needed for planning and decision-making.
- MBO (Management by Objectives) — a participative approach where managers and staff jointly set measurable objectives.
- Disaster Management — preparedness, response, and recovery planning for events like fire or flood damaging the collection.
- Crisis Management — handling sudden disruptive events (budget cuts, public controversies) to protect the institution's functioning and reputation.
Knowledge Management
Knowledge Management (KM) is the systematic process of creating, capturing, sharing, and applying an organisation's tacit (personal, experience-based) and explicit (documented) knowledge, supported by tools like intranets, expertise directories, and communities of practice, within a defined KM architecture and set of principles.
Marketing of Library Products and Services
Library marketing applies the classic 4Ps marketing mix (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) — extended with Segmentation (identifying distinct user groups), market research, strategic planning, and appropriate pricing (often nominal or free) and advertising to increase awareness and usage of library services; management consultancy may support larger-scale strategic initiatives.