AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED LIBRARY INFORMATION SYSTEM AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN AFRICA, NAIROBI KENYA

Abstract

Change in the library environment has become inevitable as Libraries today integrate multiple and diverse information technologies in all areas of their service provision. Libraries, like many other institutions, have experienced change at an unsteady rate. Nearly every library, has experienced at least one change—, a library has implemented the initial automation of their functions with Online OPACs or has migrated from manual systems to automated and from older automated to newer or more sophisticated systems. This has been brought about by the need to remain relevant and survive the technology onslaught, the need to remain competitive and desire to adopt a more effective and efficiency means of operations in service delivery. Yet as technology continues to change at a rapid pace, with no sign of slowing down, implementing something new—such as an automated Library Information System (LIS)—has dynamic change effects and requires strategic approach: For it to bring about effective change, change management is prerequisite. Change management is the process of achieving smooth implementation of change by planning and introducing it systematically, taking into accounts the likelihood of it being resisted. It is a structured approach to transitioning individuals, teams and organizations from a current state to a desired future state. The study focused on change management approaches in implementation of automated LIS at Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Nairobi, kenya