Environment Scans

Environment scans have always interested me since I’ve had repeated experiences of people suggesting doing or getting something that we already have and use. Knowing the lay of the land is a critical component of being able to think and act strategically as it gives you an idea of what is robust – and what is lacking. This week I found a nice description of the process and significance of conducting a thorough environment scan in a digital humanities context.

The article is titled “First Things First: Conducting an Environmental Scan” by E. Leigh Bonds. The scan was conducted at a large R1 institution (The Ohio State), however the methods and strategies that Bonds used in conducting the scan could be employed at a variety of institutions. Also – although the focus was on digital humanities, I found that several different contexts could re-purpose this work to determine what we have and what we need to be successful in many different types of initiatives.