Information management and service integration at German universities
Abstract
Purpose
Customers do not like to deal with maintenance problems and responsibilities for academic support facilities. They prefer service portfolios that integrate services for an easy and comfortable use. This paper aims to describe the organisational changes needed in the computer centres and libraries of German universities.
Design/methodology/approach
The article describes how several German universities are setting up an integrated information management system to improve cooperation between institutions that provide academic support in the areas of information, communication and media services.
Findings
The largely traditional support structures of German universities are in transition. The problems and challenges posed by information management and service integration, which Anglo‐American universities introduced during the mid‐1980s, are now a key issue at German universities and are being tackled with ever‐greater energy.
Originality/value
This article gives an overview of the current state of information management at German universities.
Keywords
Citation
Degkwitz, A. and Schirmbacher, P. (2008), "Information management and service integration at German universities", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 654-662. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830810920969
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited