A Discussion of Problems in Implementing Organisational Cultural Change: Developing A Learning Organisation in University Libraries

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the literature on organisational cultural change and problems in its implementation, focusing on the case of building a learning organisation (LO) within university library context.

Design/methodology/approach
Key literature published within Library and Information Science, Business and Management and other related fields were reviewed to identify themes regarding organisational cultural change in relation to development of a LO emerging in the recent years.

Findings
Reviewed in this paper highlights key challenges in examining organisational cultural change for the purpose of building a LO. These include there is no agreed definition of the LO concept, a lack of practical approaches and measure for assessing achievement of the cultural change. A need for in-depth studies which focus on current practices and related problems in this regard is also revealed and the Systems Approach is proposed as a suitable approach for holistic investigation of all critical elements possibly affect establishment of a LO.

Originality/value
The paper raises awareness of the importance of examining organisational cultural change as a critical supportive influence of developing a LO. Problems to be considered in its implementation are synthesised and served as a basis for further investigation in the author’s doctoral research project.