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1 – 2 of 2Sheetal Desai, Srinivasa A. Rao and Shazi Shah Jabeen
This paper aims to focus on how reciprocal mentoring can be used to make employees culturally intelligent.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to focus on how reciprocal mentoring can be used to make employees culturally intelligent.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conceptualize and present this framework based on their own experience in the industry and research experience in cross-cultural competence.
Findings
Workplaces today are characterized by high levels of multiculturalism. In such environments, being able to navigate this cultural diversity can be a challenge to many employees. Investing in cross-cultural training can be costly and time consuming. In such a situation, what better way to learn and appreciate cultural diversity than by bringing together two individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Reciprocal mentoring for developing cultural intelligence can be an effective practice that organizations can follow to develop intercultural competence amongst its employees.
Practical implications
The concept presented in the paper can help organizations use their own existing resources to develop cultural intelligence company-wide, rather than choosing third-party interventions/training.
Originality/value
This paper provides executives with a quick glimpse into the concept of cultural intelligence and its development through reciprocal mentoring.
Details
Keywords
Wendi Arant‐Kaspar, Henry Carter, Sheetal Desai, John Byrd and Douglas Hahn
This article seeks to look at the need for a library request system that can provide improved relationship management and personalized services, and meets public…
Abstract
Purpose
This article seeks to look at the need for a library request system that can provide improved relationship management and personalized services, and meets public expectations about advances in technology and self‐service applications. In this case, a homegrown solution fills a need in an efficient, cost‐effective and gratifying manner.
Design/methodology/approach
After investigating established reserves systems and finding them lacking in relationship and process management features, the libraries got to the point where library staff started looking for internal solutions to request tracking and workflow issues when a homegrown automated solution was discovered; Library Systems, the libraries' internal technical support unit, had developed a very versatile “Helpdesk” system that tracked the status of computer work and problem requests. This system had been adapted by other libraries and organizations around the country for a similar purpose and provided a simple yet versatile interface that would lend itself well to developing a system for reserve request tracking and process management.
Findings
After making use of this system over three terms including a busy Fall 2006, ResDesk has made a huge positive impact on workflow and communication. Instructors can, and do, check the status of their requests at their own discretion resulting in fewer visits from stressed out instructors. The system itself has been phenomenal in managing the request, allowing reserves processing, even though there are more requests than ever, to be more efficient than ever. For comparison, even though the number of requests has steadily increased, the amount of processing time, with the implementation of ResDesk, has steadily decreased.
Originality/value
While there have been many articles published on customer‐relationship management systems, they are firmly entrenched in the business sector and there has been little discussion in library literature about a system that would automate all communications and workflows surrounding interaction with patrons, from request to completion.
Details