PROJECT 3: PLANNING AND EVALUATING A NEW INFORMATION SERVICE
PURPOSE: To become familiar with the steps in designing and developing an evaluation mechanism for a new information service (acquisition of a new resource; development of resources for a new client base; incorporating products from a new service provider).
INSTRUCTIONS: Locate a specific group, agency or company needing information services of any type in an information environment of interest to you. Your task will be to plan and design a new or enhanced service that will be implemented by the group or institution. The project will be more meaningful if you devise a plan for a service that the group actually plans to implement.
Successful completion of the project will require your understanding the:
- Existing information environment (types of users; types of services provided; types of services or resources needed)
- Information needs that will be addressed by the new service
- Existing or planned staffing configuration
Your job will be to propose, plan for, and rationalize the introduction of a new service or information resource for the chosen setting in the form of a project report to the director, information manager or whomever will be responsible for initiation and management of the service.
The submitted report should:
- Define and describe exact nature and parameters of the new service
- Describe how it will be introduced and integrated into the existing organizational structure and services (provisions for training, staffing as needed)
- Provide well reasoned arguments for initiation, inclusion of this service
- Include comparative information on its value over competing services
- Determine the financial impact with costing of all aspects of the service (give consideration to how costs will be recovered, if appropriate)
- Propose a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of the new service
SUBMIT:
- Tu. 5 May or Th. 7 May: Oral presentation to class of your plan (in a format suitable for professional presentation). In addition you should provide a brief introduction to the class on the information setting, community of users and their information needs/behavior, staffing
- Th. 14 May: Copy of report prepared for agency/information service manager and covering points outlined above to manager and instructor
- Wed. 20 May: Written (or email or fax: 510-642-5814) review and evaluation of your proposal by agency/ information service manager (Evaluation Instructions)