The Challenges of Teaching the Introductory LIS Management Course

Teaching the introductory LIS management course may be the most challenging assignment for LIS professors because of the breadth of the subject, the probabilistic nature of management principles, and the differing management environments of LIS organizations. The best teaching strategy is to describe honestly to students the benefits and limitations of the course and to focus on the achievable objectives of introducing students to core management concepts, providing skill enhancement, and encouraging them to evaluate their management potential. The article discusses the difficulties of teaching leadership skills, the limits imposed by student competencies, and the impact of the professor's background on course content.