| The research questions of this study are concerning the factors of decision-making of merging libraries and computing centers in Taiwan. The decision-makers on four campuses in Taiwan were interviewed by using the multiple-case study approach. The answers, responses, and feedback from the participants were compared, synthesized, and analyzed into the five categories of the researcher's theoretical framework, which combines the cognitive and psychological elements of Simon's bounded rational decision-making and Rogers' innovation-decision process. The five categories of factors that act as helpful but not restricting guides are: (1) factors of environment, (2) factors of decision-making units, (3) factors of decision-makers' personality, (4) factors of innovation, and (5) factors of time. The findings reveal that the mergers of libraries and computing centers on Taiwanese campuses is an authoritative and necessitated decision and the decision-makers' personality is a key factor which may be changed according to the school size and budget resources. All of the decisions of merging libraries and computing centers of schools are impacted by the factors of environment, decision-making unit, and time; no matter if the school is public, private, large, or small. The results of this study imply that Rogers' five stages of innovation decision process are not proper to explain Taiwanese mergers of libraries and computing centers and echoes three limitations of Simon's bounded rational decision-making process. This study suggests Library and Information Study to emphasize the importance of building a new legitimacy for adding accountability and consistency in this new organization, offering The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) a cultural understanding regarding decision-making types in Taiwan, and improving curriculum of the Library and Information Study for involving the fields of management and law. |
