Developing a Competitive Resource-Based View Strategy for Academic Libraries

Abstract:Technological innovation and the information age have significantly impacted academic libraries' roles in higher education. Patrons' diverse needs require that academic libraries provide dynamic services and resources. Within resource constraints, academic libraries face the challenge of identifying and investing appropriately in specific resources that will effectively and efficiently meet patrons' complex needs. Libraries have traditionally measured efficiency by developing single factor productivity indexes. However, these qualitative methods do not adequately address the efficiency aspect, which measures the transformation of resources (inputs) into services (outputs). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) measures the relative efficiencies of a decision-making unit with multiple inputs and outputs. The DEA methodology has been applied to libraries over the past twenty years. This paper proposes how to develop a competitive resource-based view strategy and data envelopment analysis evaluation model that faculty can employ to strengthen their libraries. The model is demonstrated by analyzing the efficiency of the Portland State University Branford Price Millar Library compared to its peer institution libraries and recommending resource-based strategies that will yield the greatest sustained competitive advantage.