Information Literacy in the Workplace

Laura L. Leavitt, MSLIS

Labor Relations & Business Librarian

Michigan State University

SLA Annual Conference - June 14, 2010

Research Questions

Do the skills we impart (via information literacy instruction) extend to the

workplace?

Are they the skills that employers want and employees need?

If not, how can we realign our instructional strategies?

“Our fundamental competitiveness is at stake. And a cynic would say that the only way you’re finally going to get into the end zone on

this issue is for some of our important industries to lose competitiveness globally. The fact is, this

is already happening in a number of cases…”

W. James McNerney, Jr.

Chairman, President, and CEO

The Boeing Company

Source: Susan Stewart (2009), “Will You Want to Hire Your Own Kids? (Will Anybody Else?),” The Conference Board Executiveaction Series, No. 313

Some Definitions

• Information Literacy

• Business Information Literacy– Financial Literacy

• Workplace Information Literacy

Recent HS Graduates

40% of High School Graduates Not Prepared for College or Workforce

• Math & Science• Writing• Reading comprehension• Conducting Research

…and students AGREED!

Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, (2005) Rising to the Challenge: Are High School Graduates Prepared for College and Work? Conducted for Achieve, Inc. http://www.achieve.org/files/pollreport.pdf

Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, (2005) Rising to the Challenge: Are High School Graduates Prepared for College and Work? Conducted for Achieve, Inc. http://www.achieve.org/files/pollreport.pdf

Recent College Graduates

Source: Casner-Lotto, J., Rosenblum, E. & Wright, M. (August 2009) The Ill-Prepared U.S. Workforce, Exploring the Challenges of Employer-Provided Workforce Readiness Training, The Conference Board Research Report.

7 Survival Skills:The Competencies Workers Need and Schools

Don’t (Adequately) Teach

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Collaboration across networks and leading by influence

• Agility and adaptability

• Effective oral and written communication

• Accessing and analyzing information

• Curiosity and imagination

• Initiative and entrepreneurialism

Source: Tony Wagner, 2008, The Global Achievement Gap, p.67

Employer Initiatives

• Ford Motor Co. www.fordpas.org

• Boeing

• YUM! Brands http://www.yumcareers.com/culture/yum-university/

• American Express

Houston… We Have a Problem!

Public education system, colleges / universities and employer-based

training programs are not improving the situation very much….

LIR 823: The Assignment

Research a company and present the information you find.

• Corporate Strategy• Competitors• Financial performance• External environment • Assessment of future prospects

Recommended d/bases and resources

LIR 823: Assessment

LIR 823: Results

• Librarian “interventions”– Research guides and quick in-class tutorial– Feedback on two practice rounds– Group meetings– One-on-one meetings

• Assessments – Students Improved

• Alumni/Employer feedback

Lessons Learned• Preliminary instruction on “basic skills” needed • Analysis and synthesis of information was most

difficult• Previous work experience seemed to give

some students an edge• Social aspect of learning was important and

might need to be leveraged more in the future• More improvement is needed to meet employer

expectations

Next Steps / Future Directions

• Online tutorial on business research• Evolving pedagogy & rubrics • Further interviews and survey of human

resources professionals / alumni• Increased collaboration with faculty, career

services and HR professionals necessary • Advocacy

Thank You

Laura L. Leavitt

Labor Relations/Business Librarian

Gast Business Library

Michigan State University

50 Law College Building

East Lansing, MI 498824-1300

517-355-4647

leavitt9@msu.edu