Library expense control: a system dynamics approach

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this article is to propose a model to study the expenses of an RFID‐based library system. For this purpose risk‐benefit factors using causal loop concepts are studied and identified. Then, a flow diagram is developed and the mathematical formulation of the proposed model is presented and used for simulation purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is written based on research and observations from scientific journals and reports. For this purpose key elements of risks and benefits of radio frequency identification in library services are identified. For model development purposes the concepts of systems thinking and system dynamics are employed. The systems thinking perspective is used as a tool to relate key factors of risks and benefits, and system dynamics are used to simulate the model of the problem.

Findings

Systems thinking can provide an efficient way to analyze the risks, benefits, and the risk‐benefit phenomena of systems. The use of system dynamics allows us to look into the behavior of the level variable that is of main concern to management. In the case of this article, it is library expenses that are studied and kept under control.

Practical implications

Library managers can benefit from this article through the development of similar models using systems thinking and simulating similar models using system dynamics to find the behaviour of one or more variables of the system to analyze system expenses and manage costs.

Originality/value

A system with a given level of expense was employed, and then by taking key factors into consideration a system is proposed that can provide lower expenses with the presence of RFID technology. Due to the fact that the proposed methodology allows management to look into the expenses of the library over coming periods and to design the system the way management feels is possible (a new expense level in a period of n years), this study makes a significant contribution to the literature.

Citation

Zare Mehrjerdi, Y. (2012), "Library expense control: a system dynamics approach", The Electronic Library, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 492-506. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211252201