Why information departments are becoming academic

Abstract

This article outlines the increasing convergence between academia and business over the last decade or so, and the mutual benefits that this closer association has brought. He also looks at the growing importance of the information profession, suggesting that this is leading to a greater need for specialist skills, as reflected by the rise in academic courses in this area. However, he argues that increasing specialization must not lead to insularity; if information professionals are truly concerned with gaining a competitive advantage, they must not close their minds to the potential benefits of working with external, non-specialist, partners. The benefits that business has reaped from academia, he contends, suggest that this may also be a fruitful avenue for information departments to explore.