This paper aims to stimulate discussion about the nature of technology-related organisational change and how it is managed within museums. It argues that how we think about and understand change affects our ability to anticipate, shape and direct it. Drawing upon perspectives from sociology, information systems, management and organisation theory, this paper explores how we might understand and better manage change within the museums sector generally and, in particular, that which arises in our use of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs). It advocates the conscious use of theory, particularly organisational theory, to encourage new perspectives on organisations and the challenge of change represented by technology. Organisational theory particularly that informed by the 'new science' of complexity provides a rich source of insights about the nature of change which have so far been lacking in the discussion of digital cultural heritage within museums.
Increasing numbers of heritage collecting organisations such as archives, galleries, libraries and museums are moving towards the provision of digital content and services based on the collections they hold. The collections sector in Australia is characterised by a diverse range of often very small organisations, many of which are struggling with the transition to digital service delivery. One major reason for this struggle is the lack of suitable underlying business models for these organisations as they attempt to achieve a sustainable digital presence. The diverse characteristics of organisations within the collections sector make it difficult, if not impossible, to identify a single business model suitable for all organisations. We argue in this paper that the development of a flexible e-business model framework is a more useful strategy for achieving this goal. This paper presents a preliminary framework based on the literature, utilising the Core + Complement (C+) Business Model Framework for Content Providers initially developed by and outlines how the framework will be refined and investigated empirically in future research within the Australian collections sector.
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