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As libraries embrace the changes that are impacting their organizations, maintaining organizational structure is essential to having an effective and efficient operation that will continue to produce results and provide services as expected and needed by patrons, clients and students. Having an organizational structure that aligns with the mission and objectives of the library is critical and utilizing the elements of creating those structures are necessary to achieve full potential. Those basic elements typically are; job design, departmentation, delegation, span of control and chain of command. Having a strong and proper chain of command, no matter how the organization is structured, will provide increased benefit through tough periods of financial instability.
As an element of organizational structure, the chain of command refers to an organization's hierarchy of reporting relationships. This is important for all personnel within the organization to have a line of supervision for providing both direction and guidance but also to troubleshoot and advocate for resources and other needs related to accomplishment of goals. The chain of command not only establishes accountability, it lays out an organization's lines of authority and decision-making power. A proper chain of command ensures that every task, job position and department has one person assuming responsibility for performance.
Libraries however; tend to be different than other organizations as it relates to creating authoritarian structure. Librarians by nature advocate and support information sharing and broadly network in a variety of ways. This could lend itself to an independent and innovative thinking staff that overlooks the need for structure and authoritative support in their efforts. Resource allocation can become at cross purposes, or in conflict, if the chain of command is not driving the strategic need and prioritizing total organizational efforts.
A command chain or hierarchical structure should not just happen randomly. Creating the hierarchy with set responsibilities should occur purposefully and in support of organizational structure and needs, especially with the type of reorganizations that libraries are considering during changes to the economic environment such as seen in the last several years. Planners should first consider the organization's goals since organizational structure must support strategy. They should next determine the tasks needed to reach the goals. Departmentalization follows as planners decide how to group the tasks. Grouping affects...