This latest publication by Jennifer Rowley is a welcome addition to two previous titles co‐authored with Sue Roberts – Managing Information Services (2004) and Leadership: the challenge for information professionals (2008). Both books were very well received internationally by the information profession and are still a must read for all levels from under‐graduate to senior management. Rowley is currently Professor of Information and Communications at the Department of Information and Communications, Manchester Metropolitan University and is well known as an expert in her field, evidenced by the publication of numerous scholarly papers on management and related subjects.
The information provided on the cover calls it a “ground‐breaking book” being “the first to discuss and apply the rhetoric and theories of innovation and entrepreneurship in information organisations”. While much has been written about creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in the business sector and there have been a number of new academic journals devoted to these topics emerging over the last twenty years, there has been little published relating to information organisations. Corporates acknowledge that in order to maintain their competitive edge they must actively encourage these activities in their own enterprises, so why should libraries be any different? They have weathered the storm of great technological change, some have re‐invented themselves as information or knowledge centres, disposing of the name library as “old hat” and out‐dated. Others have simply continued operating and providing the same services as they have for years with only slight modifications.
The publication of this book is therefore timely or perhaps even long overdue as a resource for librarians. It challenges us to think differently about what we do and to learn from other organisations. This is not however, a simple “how to” book – its prime aim is to encourage information professionals at all levels to develop their skills, to act “entrepreneurially “and to acknowledge their potential for creativity and innovation. We are asked to explore concepts and theories, reflect and most of all to learn. While under‐graduates in particular will find it useful, it will also be a useful tool for senior management within information organisations to aid the strategic planning/project management process.
Libraries are however, rarely mentioned as such in the book, seemingly replaced by “information organisations” and I found this very irritating especially when the book is primarily aimed at librarians and in particular academic librarians. There is no definition of an “information organisation” provided – companies such as Google and vendors of information such as publishers, among many others dealing in information could also fit this mould, though one has to ask whether such a book would really appeal to this audience.
With only five chapters and less than 200 pages, Rowley does present a concise and thorough treatise. Chapter 1 sets the scene and introduces the concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship by exploring different definitions; where creativity fits within an organisation and discusses the relationship between change management and innovation management. Definitions of these the two concepts abound in the literature and Rowley discusses these, and chooses one that fits with her view of information organisations and how they operate.
Chapter 2, simply headed “Innovation” is co‐authored by Anahita Baregheh, and provides an excellent overview for the novice and revision for those whom the topic isn't new. Areas such as types of innovation; the nature or degree of innovation; technological innovation in particular information systems; and innovation orientation and management are covered. At the end of each section there are opportunities for reflection with specific questions relating to personal experience in your own organisation. Baregheh is an expert in the field and has previously co‐authored with Rowley on the topic of innovation, the papers are included in the References and Additional Reading at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 3, is also co‐authored, this time by Siwan Mitchelmore who in 2010 co‐authored a paper on entrepreneurial competencies with Rowley in the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research and is referenced at the end of the chapter. As for Chapter Four, an overview of entrepreneurship is provided. The main focus however, is on public sector corporate entrepreneurship; social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial competencies. There are useful supporting tables and figures including one from the paper mentioned above.
In Chapter 4, “Organizing for innovation”, Rowley makes the decision to consider, entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity as she states with “entrepreneurial orientation, innovation orientation and creative organizations” (p. 102). She acknowledges that this is counter to others who see innovation and entrepreneurship as separate processes. Components and characteristics of an innovative organisation are presented and a very useful table is included which shows each component and their key features. Leadership for innovation; building innovative teams; innovation and entrepreneurship strategies; are all covered and the chapter finishes with launching an innovation and change management.
The final chapter aims to draw all the previous learning together to enable the reader to have gained the skills at the end of it to plan an innovation strategy. The specific stages of an innovation project; customer and users as innovators; open innovation and collaboration, networks and partnerships; and finally reflection on the relationship between innovation, knowledge and learning are discussed. The final part of the chapter includes seven contributions that Rowley considers information and knowledge managers can make to innovation in their organisations. Overall this chapter was disappointing, I expected so much more, especially as there are some great innovations out there, the addition of some case studies would have been an appropriate ending to engender enthusiasm for innovation and entrepreneurship amongst the informational professionals who will read this book.
In summary, this is a useful book, the format of the chapters is well done, with the learning objectives laid out at the beginning and the review questions and challenges with group discussion topics at the end could be very useful. I especially liked the opportunities for reflection throughout the chapters. Has Rowley's objective in writing this book been successfully achieved? Yes, I think it has, even with the shortcomings I have mentioned, the chapters on innovation and entrepreneurship alone are excellent and for those alone it is worth purchasing and adding to the bookshelves.
