3

 Recommendations

Choosing a methodology

Understanding an organization’s environment will help one determine an appropriate methodology for an environmental scan.

While focus groups might work well in an in-person setting, surveys might be a better option in a remote learning environment. For instance, in my case, a survey was the most suitable methodology to assess OER needs for students and usage patterns by faculty who are learning and teaching in a remote setting.

Consult literature on environmental scan in organizations, and in libraries specifically. Literature can help one with ideas on what methodology to use.

List your goals; they will help you when deciding the suitable methodology to use for your environmental scan.

Consult fellow librarians and cohort members for ideas on what might help you best determine a methodology that works for your particular environment.

Survey Instruments

If you settle on a survey for your methodology, determine an instrument ideal for your environment. The questions should be designed to answer the fundamental questions being assessed and the project goals.

Communication

• Know the stakeholders in your organization. Craft your communication in a way that helps attract survey participants.
• Work with a communication manager if you have one. They will help you with ideas to communicate strategically.
• Know the communication channels available to you for information dissemination.
• Have stakeholders like subject librarians help you disseminate information to faculty.
• Provide some contact details for any survey takers who have questions or feedback about the survey.
• The most important thing is having a project timeframe to guide your entire process from start to finish.