The Leadership Dimension in Information and Communication Technology Adoption in African Libraries

Abstract

The article focuses on leadership challenges in adaptation to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in African libraries. It identifies and discusses the need for adequate leadership styles and behavior in the bid to adapt effectively to new technologies. Online survey, observation arising from personal professional practice experience, personal communication, and interview methods were used to gather data for the study. Older library professionals, many of whom are still very visible across the leadership strata of libraries, were found to exhibit diverse attitude to the adaptation to ICTs deployment and use in their libraries. Some library leaders and older generation professionals were discovered to react somewhat negatively to changes in technology used in their libraries, preventing the younger professionals from performing to full capacity, and generally showing nonchalance to new technologies. Proper training and retraining, mentoring, and harnessing the synergy of ideas, with respectful communication from new generation library professionals, was found to be desirable. Change management workshops and implementation of standard ethics of the profession are recommended, while emphasis is put on the need for library professionals to overcome their technophobia and take leadership in adapting to move the library and information profession forward.

Assessing Human Factor in the Adoption of Computer-Based Information Systems as the Internal Corporate Social Responsibility

“…Few managers conscious of internal CSR, have proactively planned the business expansions and presented it to their directors, whereas others neglected it. The present research is in agreement with the previous study (Oyelude & Oladele, 2014), which focuses on the need for relevant training of their employees in particular companies and industries. Instead of going into complicated statistical and mathematical calculations, successful managers have converted threats into opportunities using entrepreneurial capabilities.…”

“…Information and communication technology may have an adverse quantitative impact on employment (UKEssays, 2013), which reflects that the implementation of information technology may lead to unemployment. A case illustrates that harnessing the synergy of ideas-mentoring, training, and refreshers are needed for the adoption of information and communication technology in a department (Oyelude & Oladele, 2014). Due to the reduction of paperwork and emergence of automation, businesses boon expediently, and the tasks which were performed by human beings manually are performed by computer systems such as answering of phone calls by systems replaced receptionists and telephone operators.…”

Application of linked data technologies in libraries: Pakistani information professionals’ attitudes and perceptions

“…Data revealed that perceived ease of use of the library system had a significant impact on perceived usefulness, which ultimately led to a behavioural intention to use. Oyelude and Oladele (2014) discussed ICT adoption in African libraries and identified the need for ICT deployment and use. It is noted that some senior library leaders not only resist changes towards technology adoption but also prevent the younger professionals from performing to their full capacity.…”

Library leadership in Nigeria and COVID-19 pandemic

“…The results of this study reveal that transformational and transactional leadership styles portend safety for libraries in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. This is because leadership traits that support transformational and transactional leadership offer hope for the libraries (Akor, 2014; Oyelude and Oladele, 2014; Nwaigwe, 2015). Riggs (2001) and Igbaekemen (2014) emphasised that prospective leadership crises in libraries can be eliminated through the application of transformational and transactional leadership styles.…”

“…The respondents rated their leadership style as more transformational and transactional than laissez-faire. In a study of the leadership dimension in information and communication technology adoption in African libraries, Oyelude and Oladele (2014) found that the most ubiquitous leadership styles needed for ensuring suitable adaptation to ICT in libraries include: team-building (88.4%), sharing leadership (65.1%), exemplary leadership (58.1%), persuasive leadership (39.5%), assertive leadership (32.6%) and benevolent leadership (14%). Ogbah (2013) examined the leadership style and organisational commitment of librarians and support staff in some selected academic libraries in Delta State, Nigeria.…”