Organizational Learning in the Evaluation Procedures: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

The study investigated the nature of organizational learning within Taiwanese Institute of Technology academic libraries, and in particular the nature of the relationship between the Institutional Evaluation of those libraries by the Ministry of Education and the organizational response of the libraries. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 library personnel, including directors. These interviews resulted in the identification of three themes. The results of this study show that few libraries seem to be achieving what might be considered an adequate level of organizational learning, largely, it seems, because of internal barriers and structural problems with how the institutional evaluation is implemented. It seems difficult for some libraries to use evaluation as a tool to assist with organizational learning. Libraries must engage more in a learning dialogue with their environments and enhance their capacity for effective organizational learning.