Process mapping

Résumé du document

The challenge faced by librarians today is "to maintain or cut costs, while, at the same time, increasing both the range and quality of services and programs." This assignment looks at library design, mainly including issues like new technologies, process layout, process type and job design and describing the different steps that the librarian must keep in mind when selecting, ordering books and putting them on the shelves. To illustrate this, I will apply the theory to the actual example of the library "Louis Aragon" in Calais, France. In a first part, I will show how I organized my work, and explain all the steps carried out through a Gantt chart. I will then analyze the planning of my project and evaluate to what extent was accurate. In a second part, I will study the library's design process and will map the process of the procurement for a book for a library, from its selection to its return when lending out. In a third part, I will conduct an analysis of the library, and finally, I will reflect on my essay and try to enlarge on it.

Extraits

[...] And the whole process starts again. If the book is not returned on time: a reminder is sent. The person is then forbidden to borrow any resources as long as he has not returned it and he could be penalized for the delay. Here is a more detailed process map of that process: Part Evaluation When evaluating a library, inputs such “money, people, materials, equipment, facilities and information”16 are to be taken into consideration. One has to precise that a library, being a non for profit organization, is mostly assessed by its intangible assets related mainly to the customer satisfaction. [...]

[...] I clearly realised all the implications of process design and process mapping. In order to deliver a successful service, all the areas such as process type, process layout, job design, process technology need to be taken into consideration. It is only by studying carefully each area and by breaking down each activity of a job that you will figure out the requirements and improvements to make in the process as a whole. Indeed all these sectors are interrelated. What are the criterions in order to assess accurately a library? [...]

[...] Process layout Having chosen the process type, the basic layout process must be selected. The layout of an operation is “concerned with the physical location of its transforming resources, that is deciding where to put all the facilities, machines, equipment and staff in the operation.”6 A tiny change in the layout can disrupt the whole functioning of the library and affects the efficiency of the good delivery of the book. Therefore, it would have a critical impact on the process as a whole Slack, 2004.p.110. [...]

[...] Once the selection is made, one has to consider the choice of the version: either paperback or hardcover, in relation to the budget available. It is advisable to reflect on the lasting value of the collection. For example, hardcover version is most suitable for the “classics” and “bestsellers”, likely to be handled a lot. b. Ordering Books The library Louis Aragon acquires books in public markets only with bookshops, where you get a discount because of your fidelity and the amount of books ordered. [...]

[...] Indeed, Librarians are now carrying out more responsibilities. For instance, they are used to set up themed such as Halloween, exhibits and activities. Last year the library organized hours of the fairytales”, “history of photography” which made the environment more alive, and attractive to people. Moreover authors from the region are able to introduce themselves when releasing a book for example. The librarian's work is therefore diversified and he gains in motivation by receiving feedback directly from the public. The librarian is also more involved in his work Performance Regarding the evaluation of general performance in a more mathematical way, the “Little's Law”21 -which determinates the throughput time meaning “time for a unit to move through the process”- would be the most suitable method to investigate. [...]