Survival of the fittest: The performance of franchised versus independent small business during economic uncertainty and recovery. The contribution of small business to the Australian economy is substantial. There are almost two million small businesses, representing 96% of all businesses in Australia. As the small business sector is Australia's largest employer, providing jobs for 46 percent of the private sector, it is important that they succeed. This research will analyse survival factors d ....Survival of the fittest: The performance of franchised versus independent small business during economic uncertainty and recovery. The contribution of small business to the Australian economy is substantial. There are almost two million small businesses, representing 96% of all businesses in Australia. As the small business sector is Australia's largest employer, providing jobs for 46 percent of the private sector, it is important that they succeed. This research will analyse survival factors during economic uncertainty in order to identify sustainable and enduring success strategies. The study will compare the performance of independently owned and franchised small businesses in both regional and urban communities. Benefits will include improved knowledge about the key factors that drive superior independent and franchised small business performance.Read moreRead less
The Future of Financial Regulation: Enhancing integrity through design. The global financial crisis and the attendant collapse of major financial institutions have called into question the efficacy of financial regulation and the standards of conduct of the key actors in the financial services sectors and financial markets. Ethical conduct is fundamental to the integrity of Australia's financial services sector and financial markets. This project will make a valuable and innovative contribution ....The Future of Financial Regulation: Enhancing integrity through design. The global financial crisis and the attendant collapse of major financial institutions have called into question the efficacy of financial regulation and the standards of conduct of the key actors in the financial services sectors and financial markets. Ethical conduct is fundamental to the integrity of Australia's financial services sector and financial markets. This project will make a valuable and innovative contribution to the national priority goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric by assisting market actors fulfil their professional roles in an ethical manner. By so doing it accords with the national priority goals of promoting an innovation culture and economy, and safeguarding Australia.Read moreRead less
Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflic ....Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflict before it escalates into dispute. Case studies and recommendations will inform participants and regulatory authorities so as to prevent conflict escalating. This will create a more 'level playing field' for participants and improve financial security for all stakeholders.Read moreRead less
A Study of Dynamic Capabilities in Australian and US Born Global Firms. Government policy recommendations for internationalising resources-constrained small and medium firms will be made. Practitioners will be informed of feasible paths for early and rapid internationalisation. Yet-to-internationalise small and medium enterprises will be advised on how to acquire, reconfigure and use capabilities to achieve positional advantages in international markets. The Australian and international academi ....A Study of Dynamic Capabilities in Australian and US Born Global Firms. Government policy recommendations for internationalising resources-constrained small and medium firms will be made. Practitioners will be informed of feasible paths for early and rapid internationalisation. Yet-to-internationalise small and medium enterprises will be advised on how to acquire, reconfigure and use capabilities to achieve positional advantages in international markets. The Australian and international academic community will be better informed of born global internationalisation, enriching teaching and learning practices in entrepreneurship, international business, international marketing, strategic management and small business management.
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Promoting Knowledge Economy Organisations and Innovative Work: Regional influences on Knowledge-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise clusters in Australia and Germany. In both Australia and Germany many regional areas have experienced economic and social decline. Clusters offer a means of fostering local economic development thereby arresting regional social and economic deterioration. The research focuses on those clusters that rely on knowledge transfer between organisations. Through identi ....Promoting Knowledge Economy Organisations and Innovative Work: Regional influences on Knowledge-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise clusters in Australia and Germany. In both Australia and Germany many regional areas have experienced economic and social decline. Clusters offer a means of fostering local economic development thereby arresting regional social and economic deterioration. The research focuses on those clusters that rely on knowledge transfer between organisations. Through identifying the drivers and impediments to the formation of knowledge based clusters, the research aims to provide practical guidance to regionally-based organizations to assist in the successful formation and maintenance of clusters. In doing so, the research will identify how clusters that rely on the sharing of organizational knowledge may promote greater regional employment possibilities.Read moreRead less
Rapidly Locating Items in Distribution Networks with Process-Driven Nodes. Safety-critical product recalls are a major public health issue in Australia. Recent extortion attempts involving poisoning of chocolate bars, paracetamol tablets and biscuits have demonstrated the urgent need for improved ways of locating commercial products that have been released into the community. Existing product recall tools are effective only within regulated manufacturing and warehousing facilities. This project ....Rapidly Locating Items in Distribution Networks with Process-Driven Nodes. Safety-critical product recalls are a major public health issue in Australia. Recent extortion attempts involving poisoning of chocolate bars, paracetamol tablets and biscuits have demonstrated the urgent need for improved ways of locating commercial products that have been released into the community. Existing product recall tools are effective only within regulated manufacturing and warehousing facilities. This project will develop novel techniques for locating items in large-scale distribution networks driven by complex logistic processes. The outcomes of the project will make it easier to rapidly and accurately pinpoint product locations outside controlled facilities, thus contributing to both cost savings and public safety.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100269
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,117.00
Summary
Maintaining Human Expertise in an AI-driven World. While information systems with artificial intelligence are increasingly used to support or automate work tasks, this can come at a cost to the development and retention of essential skills in workers. Skill erosion can jeopardise safety and fairness in contexts where humans' skills are needed. This innovative project leverages systems thinking, case studies and action design research to investigate how leveraging artificial intelligence shapes w ....Maintaining Human Expertise in an AI-driven World. While information systems with artificial intelligence are increasingly used to support or automate work tasks, this can come at a cost to the development and retention of essential skills in workers. Skill erosion can jeopardise safety and fairness in contexts where humans' skills are needed. This innovative project leverages systems thinking, case studies and action design research to investigate how leveraging artificial intelligence shapes workers' skills. Its expected outcomes include a new systems theory of skill erosion and organisational guidelines for managing artificial intelligence. These can help organisations maximise human potential by striking a balance between relying on automation and maintaining workers' skills. Read moreRead less
Taking the Pulse at Work: Employer-Employee Relations and Workplace Problems in Australia Compared to the United States. The project is an in-depth investigation using national surveys and company interviews of the state of employer-employee relations and breadth and depth of workplace problems in Australian enterprises. Topics only lightly covered in previous research get in-depth analysis: the cooperative versus adversarial climate in workplaces; the type and intensity of workplace problems ex ....Taking the Pulse at Work: Employer-Employee Relations and Workplace Problems in Australia Compared to the United States. The project is an in-depth investigation using national surveys and company interviews of the state of employer-employee relations and breadth and depth of workplace problems in Australian enterprises. Topics only lightly covered in previous research get in-depth analysis: the cooperative versus adversarial climate in workplaces; the type and intensity of workplace problems experienced by managers and employees; the effect of deteriorated relations and problems on organisational performance; and assessments of managers’ and employees’ strengths and shortcomings. Similar surveys are done for the USA to benchmark Australian experience and derive comparative lessons. Numerous measures for improvement in practice and policy are identified. Read moreRead less
Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE). New business creation is a major source of new jobs and an important component of our nation's innovation system. The project will permanently transform the understanding of business creation in Australia. In contribution to NRP 3, high-technology new ventures will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship (as CI 1 previously h ....Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE). New business creation is a major source of new jobs and an important component of our nation's innovation system. The project will permanently transform the understanding of business creation in Australia. In contribution to NRP 3, high-technology new ventures will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship (as CI 1 previously had a key role in doing in Sweden). Frontier knowledge in this area contributes to 'promoting an innovation culture and economy' and facilitates 'maximizing Australia's benefits from investments in research, particularly related to commercialisation of 'Breakthrough science' and 'Frontier technologies'.Read moreRead less
Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefit ....Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefits. In contribution to NRP 3.5, promoting an innovation culture and economy, high-technology firms will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship.Read moreRead less