Why Are We Doing Things This Way?

Over time, seemingly small workflow decisions can add up to large-scale roadblocks to change. As new team members are onboarded, inevitably it will be asked “Why are we doing things this way?” While this question sometimes can be answered easily, other times it can’t. In this presentation, we’ll explore experiences from a range of departments throughout the library, from rethinking electronic resource management workflows, addressing vendor and staffing changes, to re-evaluating the use of work orders, fulfillment units, and item requesting. We will discuss strategies, tools, and methods for evaluating and improving workflows in multiple areas of Alma to show how to get on the fast lane to more efficient, user-friendly workflows.