Student internships within an information consulting practice: a case study of taxonomy design
Information and Learning Sciences
ISSN: 2398-5348
Article publication date: 31 July 2018
Issue publication date: 20 September 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This paper reports on a taxonomy design project involving graduate students in information science (MLIS degree) working as intern-consultants under the guidance of an information science faculty member. The consulting team developed a taxonomy that would reflect current academic departmental structures and be used to optimise publisher tools for generating metrics and interpretive assessment.
Design/methodology/approach
In this case study, three students worked under the direction of a faculty member on a consulting team for a Silicon Valley company that provides business analytics to academic publishers. Tasked with designing a taxonomy of disciplinary knowledge to support the company’s analytical software tools, the students developed methods for environmental scans, vocabulary design, validation and taxonomy management for the project objectives.
Findings
The consulting experience proved to be highly beneficial for the students as an opportunity to take concepts learned in their coursework and apply them in practice. The project team delivered to the company the most detailed taxonomy of academic disciplines in the marketplace, along with recommendations for its maintenance and management for ongoing support of business objectives. The company was supportive throughout the internship programme, generating collaborative contributions from all stakeholders.
Originality/value
As more students earning an Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) or similar degree move into a wide array of careers within business environments, internship experience through consulting can be an essential advantage to their preparation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the exceptional people at RedLink they worked with on the taxonomy project: Deepika Bajaj, Nikos Houssos, Georgios Papadapoulos and Dmitris Spanos.
Citation
Tucker, V.M., Dale, J., Egge, V. and Fullman, E. (2018), "Student internships within an information consulting practice: a case study of taxonomy design", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 119 No. 7/8, pp. 403-413. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-02-2018-0008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited