Abstract:
For more than a decade, business and economics researchers have written and discussed the term "productivity paradox." Economist Robert Solow's often quoted remark "we see computers everywhere but in the productivity statistics," neatly summarizes the issue. Despite the promises of computer companies and technology advocates, many researchers believe that companies investing large amounts of capital in computers and information technology are not seeing a payoff in productivity. Productivity is a measure of the efficiency of production and is generally expressed as a ratio of input (labor and capital) to output (a product or service). Writers in many fields have discussed possible reasons for the paradox. Poor software design, underdeveloped computer skills among workers, and poor administrative management of information technology are some often given causes. Recently some economists have been predicting a boom in productivity directly related to computers. These predictions center on four major shifts: 1) improved computer technology, 2) redesigned work activities that make better use of computers, 3) increased knowledge of computers among workers, and 4) modified productivity measures to better account for computers.
The debate over productivity and computers is important for libraries. Libraries have invested great amounts of money in computers. Governments and funding agencies are increasingly calling upon libraries and educational institutions to be accountable or to demonstrate positive "outcomes" for their investments. Libraries also have a special stake in demonstrating effective use of computers and information technology. As information specialists, librarians are skilled at managing and evaluating information technology.
As a measure of computer effectiveness in libraries, productivity is a useful model, though not a familiar one. Many library services appear to defy measurement in productivity terms. More common measures are effectiveness and quality of service. Productivity, however, can account for labor, capital investment, and services. The challenge for libraries will be to develop productivity measures that adequately account for important library services. These measures cannot be limited to traditional productivity definitions if libraries are to be successful in demonstrating positive effects of computers.
