Use of Stufflebeam's CIPP model to assess a change effort in a division of a university library (Daniel L. Stufflebeam)

Reorganization efforts within colleges and universities are increasingly considered as institutions look for ways to streamline operations for financial cost savings or competitive advantage. The purpose of this study was to assess a particular change effort in a university library which took place between August, 1996 and July, 1997. A team was formed to manage the change effort, and an outside consultant was hired to facilitate the process and guide the team. Stufflebeam's evaluation model was used as a conceptual framework to evaluate the entire process which included a particular change management model brought in by the consultant. The entire change effort was described by the author as a participating member of the team and assessed by gathering feedback from team members, library staff members affected by the effort, and members of the library administration.; Results of this study suggest there are a number of components necessary for a successful change effort. One of the key elements for success is adequate support from top administrative levels in the organization. Along with formal administrative backing, support should include adequate resources, time, and a degree of freedom to perform necessary tasks. Support among staff involved in the change effort as well as those affected by the change is also important. That support can be enhanced by communicating a clear understanding of the reason for the change effort at its inception and continually involving staff throughout the change effort. Having a reorganization model or some organizing framework to guide the process also seems essential for success. In this particular case, a meeting management model as well as a model for managing change was brought to the team by the consultant. Those models, together with the facilitation of the outside consultant, created the structured process that led to the success of this change effort.