Integrated Decision Support System – iDSS for Library Holistic Evaluation

The decision-making process in academic libraries is paramount; however highly complicated due to the large number of data sources, processes and high volumes of data to be analyzed. Academic libraries are accustomed to producing and gathering a vast amount of statistics about their collection and services. Typical data sources include integrated library systems, library portals and online catalogues, systems of consortiums, quality surveys and university management. Unfortunately, these heterogeneous data sources are only partially used for decision-making processes due to the wide variety of formats, standards and technologies, as well as the lack of efficient methods of integration. This article presents the analysis and design of an integrated decision support system for an academic library. Firstly, a holistic approach documented in a previous study is used for data collection. This holistic approach incorporates key elements including process analysis, quality estimation, information relevance and user interaction that may influence a library’s decision. Based on the mentioned approach above, this study defines a set of queries of interest to be issued against the integrated system proposed. Then, relevant data sources, formats and connectivity requirements for a particular example are identified. Next, data warehouse architecture is proposed to integrate, process, and store the collected data transparently. Eventually, the stored data are analyzed through reporting techniques such as on-line analytical processing tools. By doing so, the article provides the design of an integrated solution that assists library managers to make tactical decisions about the optimal use and leverage of their resources and services

Optimal Resource Allocation and Budgeting in Libraries

Libraries since their inception 4000 years ago have been in a process of constant change. Although, changes were in slow motion for centuries, in the last decades, academic libraries have been continuously striving to adapt their services to the ever-changing user needs of students and academic staff. In addition, e-content revolution, technological advances, and ever-shrinking budgets have obliged libraries to efficiently allocate their limited resources among collection and services. Unfortunately, this resource allocation is a complex process due to the diversity of data sources and formats required to be analyzed prior to decision-making, as well as the lack of efficient integration methods. The main purpose of this study is to develop an integrated model that supports libraries in making optimal budgeting and resource allocation decisions among their services and collection by means of a holistic analysis. To this end, a combination of several methodologies and structured approaches is conducted. Firstly, a holistic structure and the required toolset to holistically assess academic libraries are proposed to collect and organize the data from an economic point of view. A four-pronged theoretical framework is used in which the library system and collection are analyzed from the perspective of users and internal stakeholders. The first quadrant corresponds to the internal perspective of the library system that is to analyze the library performance, and costs incurred and resources consumed by library services. The second quadrant evaluates the external perspective of the library system; user’s perception about services quality is judged in this quadrant. The third quadrant analyses the external perspective of the library collection that is to evaluate the impact of the current library collection on its users. Eventually, the fourth quadrant evaluates the internal perspective of the library collection; the usage patterns followed to manipulate the library collection are analyzed. With a complete framework for data collection, these data coming from multiple sources and therefore with different formats, need to be integrated and stored in an adequate scheme for decision support. A data warehousing approach is secondly designed and implemented to integrate, process, and store the holistic-based collected data. Ultimately, strategic data stored in the data warehouse are analyzed and implemented for different purposes including the following: 1) Data visualization and reporting is proposed to allow library managers to publish library indicators in a simple and quick manner by using online reporting tools. 2) Sophisticated data analysis is recommended through the use of data mining tools; three data mining techniques are examined in this research study: regression, clustering and classification. These data mining techniques have been applied to the case study in the following manner: predicting the future investment in library development; finding clusters of users that share common interests and similar profiles, but belong to different faculties; and predicting library factors that affect student academic performance by analyzing possible correlations of library usage and academic performance. 3) Input for optimization models, early experiences of developing an optimal resource allocation model to distribute resources among the different processes of a library system are documented in this study. Specifically, the problem of allocating funds for digital collection among divisions of an academic library is addressed. An optimization model for the problem is defined with the objective of maximizing the usage of the digital collection over-all library divisions subject to a single collection budget. By proposing this holistic approach, the research study contributes to knowledge by providing an integrated solution to assist library managers to make economic decisions based on an “as realistic as possible” perspective of the library situation.nrpages: 258status: publishe

A holistic approach to supporting academic libraries in resource allocation processes

E-content revolution, technological advances, and ever-shrinking budgets oblige libraries to efficiently allocate their limited resources between collection and services. Unfortunately, resource allocation is a complex process due to the diversity of data sources and formats required to be analyzed prior to decision making, as well as the lack of efficient methods of integration. The contribution of this article is twofold. We first propose an evaluation framework to holistically assess academic libraries. To do so, a four-pronged theoretical framework is used in which the library system and collection are analyzed from the perspective of users and internal stakeholders. Second, we present a data warehouse architecture that integrates, processes, and stores the holistically based collected data. By proposing this holistic approach, we aim to provide an integrated solution that assists library managers to make economic decisions based on a perspective of the library situation that is as realistic as possible

Using time-driven activity-based costing to support library management decisions: A case study for lending and returning processes

With the rapid increase in the demand for new digital services, the high cost of information, and the dramatic economic slowdown, libraries have been pressured to improve their services at lower costs. To cope with these conditions, library managers must improve their knowledge and understanding of cost behavior, as well as be aware of the different costs involved in the library. Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) is a cost management technique that allows for developing accurate cost information on a wide range of activities. Few case studies have been implemented in libraries regarding very specific processes such as interlibrary loan and acquisition processes. More research is still needed to determine whether TDABC is useful and feasible to implement for a more extensive set of library activities. Through an analysis performed at an academic library in Belgium, this document introduces TDABC as a useful method for supporting lending and returning processes. © 2014 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved

Time-Driven activity-based costing systems for cataloguing processes: A case study

TDABC is a relatively new costing management technique, initially developed for manufacturing processes, which is gaining attention in libraries. This is because TDABC is a fast and simple method that only requires two parameters, an estimation of time required to perform an activity and the unit cost per time of supplying capacity. A few case studies have been documented with regard to TDABC in libraries; all of them being oriented to analyse specific library activities such as inter-library loan, acquisition and circulation processes. The primary focus of this paper is to describe TDABC implementation in one of the most important library processes, namely cataloguing. In particular, original and copy cataloguing are analysed through a case study to demonstrate the applicability and usefulness of TDABC to perform cost analysis of cataloguing processes

Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing in the Assembly Industry

Costs and their determination play a critical role in all manufacturing companies. The traditional costing system has received criticism resulting from the arbitrary allocation of indirect manufacturing costs. As an important initiative to address its weaknesses, new costing methods such as the Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) have emerged. Unfortunately, up to our knowledge, no investigations have been applied in analyzing assembly companies thoroughly nor considering all the processes necessary to obtain the final products. This article explores the TDABC application in the assembly industry through comparison with traditional volume-based costing by focusing on manual and semi-automatized production. Since the research is descriptive, a multiple-case study design was implemented in the assembly of televisions, motorcycles, and printed circuit boards. The developed methodology allowed determining the existence of factory overhead and direct labor cost variances between two different cost accounting systems, which also affected the unit cost of the products. Findings also highlight the benefits of TDABC application in the assembly industry, along with the shortcomings and future potential of research in this area

Design of an integrated Decision Support System for library holistic evaluation

The decision-making process in academic libraries is paramount; however highly complicated due to the large number of data sources, processes and high volumes of data to be analyzed. Academic libraries are accustomed to producing and gathering a vast amount of statistics about their collection and services. Typical data sources include integrated library systems, library portals and online catalogues, systems of consortiums, quality surveys and university management. Unfortunately, these heterogeneous data sources are only partially used for decision-making processes due to the wide variety of formats, standards and technologies, as well as the lack of efficient methods of integration. This article presents the analysis and design of an integrated decision support system for an academic library. Firstly, a holistic approach documented in a previous study is used for data collection. This holistic approach incorporates key elements including process analysis, quality estimation, information relevance and user interaction that may influence a library’s decision. Based on the mentioned approach above, this study defines a set of queries of interest to be issued against the integrated system proposed. Then, relevant data sources, formats and connectivity requirements for a particular example are identified. Next, data warehouse architecture is proposed to integrate, process, and store the collected data transparently. Eventually, the stored data are analyzed through reporting techniques such as on-line analytical processing tools. By doing so, the article provides the design of an integrated solution that assists library managers to make tactical decisions about the optimal use and leverage of their resources and services.no isbnstatus: publishe

Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing to Identify Best Practices in Academic Libraries

In the current competitive and dynamic environment, libraries must remain agile and flexible, as well as open to new ideas and ways of working. Based on a comparative case study of two academic libraries in Belgium, this research study investigates the opportunities of using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) to benchmark library processes. To this end, two major research questions are addressed: 1) Can TDABC be used to enhance process benchmarking in libraries? 2) Do results at activity level provide additional insights compared to macro results in a process benchmarking? We first start by describing the TDABC implementation. Then, we discuss and compare the workflow of 10 library processes covering the four principal library functions: acquisition, cataloging, circulation and document delivery. Next, based on the benchmarking exercise, we report and discuss potential processes and performance improvements that can be realized from using library time and costs information, in particular concerning the two libraries analyzed. We conclude this article by discussing the advantages of using TDABC as a tool to enhance process benchmarking in libraries

Mathematical modeling to standardize times in assembly processes: application to four case studies

Purpose: This paper proposes model-based standard times estimates using multiple linear regression, non-linear optimization, and fuzzy systems in four real cases of assembly lines. The work includes a description of the models and compares their performance with measurements obtained through the conventional chronometer method. These models allow estimating standard times without reconducting field studies. Design/methodology/approach: For the development of the time study, the methodology proposed by the International Labour Organization (ILO) was used as a baseline, which is structured in three phases: the selection of the case study, the registration of the process by direct observation, and the calculation/estimation of the standard time. The selected case studies belong to real assembly lines of motorcycles, television sets, printed circuit boards (PCB), and bicycles. Findings: In the motorcycle’s assembly case, the study allowed the construction of fourteen linear regression models: seven to estimate standard times for assembling the front parts and seven for the rear of the different motorcycle types. Compared to the conventional chronometer method, the results never exceeded 10% of the measured values. Regarding the cases of assembling TV sets and PCBs, the study considered the construction of nonlinear optimization models that allow making appropriate predictions of the standard times in their assembly lines. Finally, for the bicycle assembly line, a fuzzy logic model was constructed and validated to represent the standard time. Research limitations/implications: To ensure the confidentiality of the companies used in the case study: all the names of the companies, services and the models of manufactured products are omitted. Originality/value: The literature consulted does not refer to the representation of standard time on assembly lines using mathematical models. The construction of these models with empirical data from real-assembly lines was a valuable aid to the companies involved in supporting activity planningPeer Reviewe