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BUSINESS LIBRARIANS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Innovative Trends and Characteristics

Elisabeth LeonardBetsy Clementson

Hunter LibraryWestern Carolina University

IN THE BEGINNING

Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (2003).

“an idea, practice, or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption”

Elisabeth Leonard (!)

Innovation is the adoption of a new idea, service or product that provides value to the adopter.

Little research exists on innovation within libraries; less on innovativeness within libraries

We wanted to know how innovative are we (librarians) really…at work

METHODOLOGY:GROUNDED THEORY

“A qualitative research method that uses a systematic set of procedures to develop an inductively derived grounded theory about a phenomenon.” Strauss, A. & Corbin, J. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park: Sage.

Provides building blocks on which theory can be constructed (no initial hypothesis)

Procedures so far: survey with a mix of open ended and Likert scale questions

To follow: interviews with managers, document analysis (mission statements, strategic plans, etc.)

METHODOLOGY:PARTICIPANTS

Web survey of business librarians associated with the ten schools listed in America’s Best Graduate Schools

Received IRB approval (and consent from participants)

Identified librarians via library websites

90% response rate for the schools/38% response rate for individuals

PARTICIPANTS

Babson College

UC Berkeley

Harvard University

IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University)

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Stanford University

University of Southern California

University of Texas at Austin

University of Pennsylvania

University of Arizona did not participate

ADOPTERS

Rabina & Walczyk. 2007. Information professionals’ attitude toward the adoption of innovations in everyday life. Information Research, 12(4), 1‐15.

innovators early adopters early majority late majority laggards

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%

Rogers Rabina & Walczyk 2007 Leonard & Clementson 2011

ANOTHER VIEW OF OUR RESULTS

Not all our participants were easily typecast!

Warning: results can vary by innovation

Innovator

Early adopter

Early majority

Late majority

Laggard

74%

79%

21%

21%

0%

INNOVATORS: VENTURESOME

“They are very eager to try new ideas.”

“…must be able to cope with a high degree of uncertainty about an innovation…”

INNOVATORS: VENTURESOME

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%


Laggards Innovator Early adopter Early majority Late majority

EARLY ADOPTERS: RESPECTABLE

“…has the greatest degree of opinion leadership in most social systems.”

“…the role of the early adopter is to decrease uncertainty about a new idea by adopting it…”

EARLY ADOPTERS: RESPECTABLE

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%



EARLY MAJORITY: DELIBERATE

“They follow with deliberate willingness in adopting innovations, but seldom lead.”

EARLY MAJORITY: DELIBERATE

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%



LATE MAJORITY: SKEPTICAL

“The weight of social norms must definitely favor the innovation before the late majority are convinced.”

LATE MAJORITY: SKEPTICAL

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%



LAGGARDS: TRADITIONAL

“The point of reference for the laggard is the past.”

“…precarious economic position”

LAGGARDS: TRADITIONAL

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%



AND THIS AFFECTS ME …….HOW?!

Rabina & Walczyk. 2007. Information professionals’ attitude toward the adoption of innovations in everyday life. Information Research, 12(4), 1‐15.

innovators early adopters early majority late majority laggards

2.50%

13.50%

34.00% 34.00%

16.00%

3.60%

24.60%

17.20%

37.00%

17.70%

42.00% 42.00%

5.00%

11.00%

0.00%


DIFFUSING INNOVATIONS:KEY PLAYERS

Look internally and externally for influencers

Innovators, early adopters, and early majority

Change agents

Managers Institutional inertia inhibits risk-taking

[where I work, there is a] culture to support risk-taking.

I am rarely taken seriously when talking about the use and benefits of new products and services.

I don't have enough time to experiment and try out new tools or services

Think about the message you are sending…and the one you are receiving

WHAT’S NEXT?

Begin a real discussion

Expand survey?

National definition of innovation?

CHECK US OUT