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Dissertation Information for Snunith Shoham

NAME:
- Snunith Shoham

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of California, Berkeley (USA) (1982)

ADVISORS:
- Michael Buckland
- F. Theodore Malm

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Mary Jean Culnan

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: ORGANIZATIONAL ADAPTATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT: THE CASE OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Abstract: An empirical study of the way in which six California public libraries have responded to changes in their environment was carried out. The study focused on two developments in the library's environment: changes in resources (caused by Proposition 13) and changes in composition of the populations served by the libraries during the 1970s.

After the six libraries' reponses to these two developments in their environment have been described, the libraries' responses are classified into types of behaviour. Two main adaptive responses are defined: attempts on the part of the organization to influence and change the environment, and changes and adjustments in the organization itself.

The various techniques that public libraries, as local, public service organizations, can employ to influence and change their environment are described. The various internal changes the library can make are classified into five levels of adjustment from less to more fundamental changes in the library organization.

An attempt is then made to relate the library's chosen response to various factors in and out of the library that may influence the process of deciding which adaptive behaviour to employ.

Among the factors examined, the three factors that were found to be highly correlated with the library's adaptive behaviour are: management style, the director's goals and values, and the organization's strategy. Additional factors that were discussed are the political structure of the jurisdiction, and the library director's perception of their environment's needs. Various internal characteristics were presented as constraints influencing the ability of the library to act.

The factors stated to be highly related to the library's adaptive behaviour (management style, organization's goals, and the organization's strategy) are all related to the library director. It is the library director who determines to a great extent the library's direction, the services it provides, and its ability to cope with its environment.

MPACT Scores for Snunith Shoham

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-05-30 12:09:32

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Students under Snunith Shoham

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None