Assessing the effectiveness of team-based structures in libraries

In the mid 1990s the technical services division at Pennsylvania State University Libraries was re-organized into the team environment. Teams were created as self-directed work teams, and continued to function without any assessment until 1999 when an administrative change forced an examination of their effectiveness. Concerns regarding the team organization were solicited in the form of individual meetings. Issues raised were documented and presented to the University’s Human Resources Department. A formal teams assessment survey was undertaken. The survey results were used to develop a structured environment in which to respond to the concerns and issues raised by the staff. A Management System for Performance was written as a tool by which the library can re-engineer the teams.