LIS 9763

I truly believe that the introduction of Web 2.0 into the workplace is going to have a profound effect on how business and organizations view their lower level employees and their patrons. In the past, upper-level managers had the simple task of developing ideas and brining them to life via the expertise of their subordinates. They also had the privilege of telling the customer what they need. But now, lower-level staff and even the customers themselves are becoming the driving force behind change and innovation. This is a fabulous shift, but unfortunately conventional organizational models to not cater well to this bottom-up approach to change. Upper level management is now forced to listen to the ‘commoners’ in a way that they’ve never had to before. They’re also beginning to be asked to give up a degree of control over their organizations which I think is having a severe effect on our ability to change. Most organizational leaders have not yet reached a point where they can let go of enough control (and risk aversion tactics) to see true innovation.

 
Is it just a coincidence that the most revolutionary social software tools were created by individuals who answered to no one as opposed to larger companies? Think of Facebook, for example. And I think that larger business like Microsoft are not embracing the ideas of their staff to the extent that they should be and that they’re doing very little to contribute to our body of networking tools as a result of this. This company is a managing risk by not taking it themselves – they simply wait for a college student in a dorm somewhere to build the next ‘big thing’ and then they swoop in and attempt to buy it. So, is anything really changing? It seems that many organizations are resistant to the organizational changes that would allow them to progress and that they’re simply finding new ways to avoid risk.

 
And I have to wonder if libraries are guilty of these same sins. Are we all working as hard as we could be to incorporate Web 2.0 tools in our organizations? Or are we simply waiting for the ‘little guys’ to do all of the innovative work?  And more importantly, are we able to look past our own views of what our users need in order to truly listen to what those needs may actually be?  I think that libraries have the ability to be pioneers. We have a large body of educated and forward-thinking employees and patrons that we can learn from. Libraries should take the time to improve organizational communication and to truly listen to the needs and wants of the public. If we don’t, are we really doing our best to serve our communities?