Keywords
Leadership, workforce planning, organisational development
Description
The shifting sands and rising tides of digital disruption within academic libraries, and the continually evolving demands and expectations of university leaders, academics and students, require innovative solutions and effective leadership. In 2018, the Library at the University of Western Australia (UWA) commenced two initiatives to future proof its workforce, preparing staff to take advantage and innovate within the rapid pace of change.
Leading for Success is a leadership program designed to provide library staff with a contemporary and relevant skill-set to initiate and lead change to develop and deliver new initiatives. This program builds on a strong history of successful leadership development at UWA Library. Designed and delivered in partnership with UWA’s Organisational Development unit, the University Library is leading the way through the creation of a program that can be adapted and delivered into other areas of the University. The program aims to prepare staff for new challenges and opportunities, including higher-level positions, which contributes to succession planning within the Library and the wider University.
In 2018, the Library also commenced a project to develop a workforce plan to identify current and near-future skills required for library staff. This has resulted in the production of a dynamic skills matrix for use as a tool for mapping current staff capabilities and to assist with professional developmental planning for individual staff and teams. The plan is assisting the Library to future proof its workforce and enable staff to engage proactively in career development.
This paper will describe the elements of the two programs and make comparisons with library staff development initiatives delivered elsewhere. It will evaluate the success of the two programs from the perspective of the participants, and provide a framework for other institutions wishing to develop similar initiatives.
Included in
Next Generation Skills and Leaders: Future Proofing UWA Library
The shifting sands and rising tides of digital disruption within academic libraries, and the continually evolving demands and expectations of university leaders, academics and students, require innovative solutions and effective leadership. In 2018, the Library at the University of Western Australia (UWA) commenced two initiatives to future proof its workforce, preparing staff to take advantage and innovate within the rapid pace of change.
Leading for Success is a leadership program designed to provide library staff with a contemporary and relevant skill-set to initiate and lead change to develop and deliver new initiatives. This program builds on a strong history of successful leadership development at UWA Library. Designed and delivered in partnership with UWA’s Organisational Development unit, the University Library is leading the way through the creation of a program that can be adapted and delivered into other areas of the University. The program aims to prepare staff for new challenges and opportunities, including higher-level positions, which contributes to succession planning within the Library and the wider University.
In 2018, the Library also commenced a project to develop a workforce plan to identify current and near-future skills required for library staff. This has resulted in the production of a dynamic skills matrix for use as a tool for mapping current staff capabilities and to assist with professional developmental planning for individual staff and teams. The plan is assisting the Library to future proof its workforce and enable staff to engage proactively in career development.
This paper will describe the elements of the two programs and make comparisons with library staff development initiatives delivered elsewhere. It will evaluate the success of the two programs from the perspective of the participants, and provide a framework for other institutions wishing to develop similar initiatives.