Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Knowledge Lens: Humans In Action, Darin S. Freeburg

Faculty Publications

Every member of a social system sees that system in a particular way. This essay outlines a

new way of seeing the uniquely human characteristics in these systems, with particular attention to what happens when this view is taken. Termed the Knowledge Lens, this view embraces complexity, sees the potential of innovation through conversation, and understands the barriers limiting the traditionally assumed powers of data, information, and knowledge. This lens is approached within the context of ensuring that graduates of a Knowledge School are equipped with the tools and understanding necessary to facilitate positive change and increase human agency--both in …

Leadership And Innovation Within A Complex Adaptive System: Public Libraries, Darin S. Freeburg

Faculty Publications

Viewing public libraries as Complex Adaptive Systems, the current study analyzed leadership within these systems in terms of complexity and innovation. This included a leader’s capacity for ambiguity and emergence, features of leadership in different contexts, and perceptions of success and innovation. From a list of current public library directors and managers, 15 participants completed a 30-minute phone interview that followed a semi-structured guide. By analyzing the intersection of complexity of approach with complexity of context, eight leadership approaches were uncovered through coding. Results suggest that most participants engaged with most of the leadership approaches at some point. In addition, …

Problems And Approaches In The Management Of Intellectual Capital In Religious Organisations: An Issue Of Complexity, Darin Freeburg

Faculty Publications

The current research uncovers problems with a religious organisation's Intellectual Capital (IC), and the approaches organisational leaders take to overcome these problems. It is situated as an issue of complexity, in which there are varying levels in both problem and approach. This is outlined according to David Snowden's Cyne¯n model. It is suggested that complex IC problems require complex IC approaches, while simple problems can make use of simple approaches. Two case studies with churches in the American South were used. Focus groups with these churches identi¯ed IC assets of strategic importance, problems, approaches, and current success. Surveys were distributed …

The Knowledge Lens: Equipping Information Professionals To Spark Innovation Within Organizations And Society, Darin Freeburg

Faculty Publications

This article outlines the Knowledge Lens—a way of seeing more clearly the opportunities for knowledge creation within organizations and society. It is proposed as a model for schools of Library and Information Science (LIS) to follow when considering curriculum changes. Instead of producing two sets of graduates—those in information and those in knowledge, each lacking the insight of the other—this model provides a foundation for embedding knowledge throughout the curriculum to equip information professionals with the requisite skills and understanding to lead innovative knowledge work in whatever organization they join. It includes three groupings and six elements. The groupings bring …

A Knowledge Lens For Information Literacy: Conceptual Framework And Case Study, Darin Freeburg

Faculty Publications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a Knowledge Lens for information literacy. This lens shifts the focus and potential outcomes of information literacy in three ways. First, it promotes self-reflection as a means of integrating information. Second, it promotes creation, emphasizing it as a social process. Third, it promotes the ability and value of working with imprecision and lack of direction. Design/methodology/approach The author designed a Community of Practice (CoP) with a loosely structured guidebook to operationalize the Knowledge Lens. The initial stated purpose of the CoP was to provide innovative solutions to issues of race relations …