Part of SLA's core mission is to promote and advocate for our members and the profession. To be effective, we must have a firm grasp of the current and future challenges our members face and how their roles are perceived by the people within their organizations who determine the stability, recognition and compensation associated with their jobs. The most important thing we learned through the alignment research is that we must change the language we use to talk about the work our members do and the value they bring to their organizations.
Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals
Changing the name of SLA to something that more accurately conveys the value our members provide, and the importance of your work to the success of organizations, will be an enormous help to the association as we advocate on your behalf. The proposed new name uses words and concepts that decision-makers understand to describe your impact on the success of organizations.
Strategic- "highly important to or an integral part of a strategy or a plan of action." You and the knowledge you provide are essential to the success of your organizations. The contemporary meaning of strategy dates back all the way to the 1800s.
Knowledge-"the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered or learned." You provide access to critical value added intelligence, not just raw data. This term tested well with stakeholders and was chosen because it conveys richer understanding and value. In fact, "Putting Knowledge to Work" has been an SLA tagline since 1915.
Professional-"a skilled practitioner; an expert." You are experts at what you do, and the skills you bring to the table are essential and valuable to organizations that are successful.
"Information" is a functional and static term. When static information is connected to the concept of "knowledge," it becomes a richer concept that more effectively communicates the value that information professionals provide.
The Vote
- Voting starts on 16 November and ends 9 December.
- Voting will be through electronic ballot.
- Results will be announced on 10 December.
- The vote will be on the name Association for Strategic Knowledge Professionals.
- A simple majority of members voting is what is required by the State of New York to amend the association's Certificate of Incorporation, which is the controlling legal document, to change the name.
- There will not be another name presented if the proposed name is not approved.
5 Major Findings of the Alignment Project
- "Knowledge" is the bridge between information and action. Knowledge implies a deep understanding of information.
- Corporate executives acknowledge the value and importance of good information. To resonate with this critical audience, information professionals must make the connection between their product and their company's strategic goals.
- Information professionals should promote rather than defend value-driven benefits. Language that points out the value of information professionals--rather than language that emphasizes the shortcomings of "do it yourself" research--is more effective.
- The word "librarian" sends a mixed message. While "librarian" has some positive connotations, it is not associated with the positive attributes that employers value. There are more effective words that do a better job of expressing what SLA members do for their organizations.
- Information professionals must focus on and value results. You save your organization time and money. Because of this, you give your organization a competitive advantage. The Alignment research revealed that value-driven language versus functional language is more effective in communicating the value of information professionals to key audiences.
RSS
Feedback form
