Managing Transformational Change: A Discursive Approach. This research program will help to improve business competitiveness, which is predicated on the ability to manage transformational change, and add to the Australian repertoire of effective change practices. It will provide insights into social innovation which depends upon effective inter-organizational collaboration by organizations from different sectors to bring about social change. It will help managers in diverse organizations deal wi ....Managing Transformational Change: A Discursive Approach. This research program will help to improve business competitiveness, which is predicated on the ability to manage transformational change, and add to the Australian repertoire of effective change practices. It will provide insights into social innovation which depends upon effective inter-organizational collaboration by organizations from different sectors to bring about social change. It will help managers in diverse organizations deal with issues of sustainability and human health which depend upon managerial capacity in addition to scientific endeavours. It will help locate Australia as a centre of expertise in the use of discourse analysis in organization and management theory. Read moreRead less
Research on Organizational Discourse. This collaboration links Melbourne and Sydney Universities with McGill University and Kings College, the University of London in an international research network that will conduct research and doctoral training on organizational discourse. Organizational discourse represents an important new theoretical and methodological development in organization and management theory and, in carrying out this program, researchers will be working at the leading edge of t ....Research on Organizational Discourse. This collaboration links Melbourne and Sydney Universities with McGill University and Kings College, the University of London in an international research network that will conduct research and doctoral training on organizational discourse. Organizational discourse represents an important new theoretical and methodological development in organization and management theory and, in carrying out this program, researchers will be working at the leading edge of theory development, as well as developing research expertise in Australia. Projects include a Handbook, a special issue of a leading international journal, a new journal, a research methods book, an ARC Discovery application and a series of workshops.Read moreRead less
Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most s ....Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most suited to this task. Subsequent benefits will flow to the community/nation through more effective and efficient policing of serious and organised crime. More broadly, organisations in fast changing business environments will benefit by understanding how to design and manage their structure and management control systems to enhance performance.Read moreRead less
The Effects of Corporate Strategy on Organisational Crisis Management and Survival. While a company can communicate to its stakeholders using a variety of methods in normal market conditions, in a crisis situation the key method of communication is via the media. There are many anecdotal studies in the literature that provide companies with advice on how to deal with crisis situations. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence grounded in strategic management theory which predict outcomes u ....The Effects of Corporate Strategy on Organisational Crisis Management and Survival. While a company can communicate to its stakeholders using a variety of methods in normal market conditions, in a crisis situation the key method of communication is via the media. There are many anecdotal studies in the literature that provide companies with advice on how to deal with crisis situations. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence grounded in strategic management theory which predict outcomes under different situations. Therefore the aim of this PhD research project is to identify and test several theoretical models by conducting quantitative and qualitative research in the public and private sectors. The research results will provide a strategic approach to enhance firm survival during a crisis.Read moreRead less
The Value of CSR to Close Stakeholders: A Discrete Choice Modelling Approach. Increasingly corporations are being called to account for their social impact, not just reactively in the sense of compliance but also proactively to the degree that they are seen to be socially innovative. This project is important in assessing the degree to which such pressure is both warranted and effective. It is one thing for a society to wish that its corporations act in socially responsible ways, but quite anot ....The Value of CSR to Close Stakeholders: A Discrete Choice Modelling Approach. Increasingly corporations are being called to account for their social impact, not just reactively in the sense of compliance but also proactively to the degree that they are seen to be socially innovative. This project is important in assessing the degree to which such pressure is both warranted and effective. It is one thing for a society to wish that its corporations act in socially responsible ways, but quite another if employees, investors, analysts and customers do not respond positively to such initiatives.Read moreRead less
Visualising Value in Australian Organisations: Case Studies in Extended Performance Management, Measurement and Reporting. This research positions and develops Australia at the forefront of the knowledge economy. Participating organisations will realise insights into their invisible resources and improve their understanding of the performance, utilisation and productivity of their intangible resources. Corporate social responsibility and social and environmental management are recognized as cruc ....Visualising Value in Australian Organisations: Case Studies in Extended Performance Management, Measurement and Reporting. This research positions and develops Australia at the forefront of the knowledge economy. Participating organisations will realise insights into their invisible resources and improve their understanding of the performance, utilisation and productivity of their intangible resources. Corporate social responsibility and social and environmental management are recognized as crucial to the contemporary organisation and this research provides a means of managing, measuring and reporting these perspectives, enhancing Australia's reputation and long-term economic sustainability. Read moreRead less
Proximal and organizational leadership and climate as predictors of key performance in non-profit organizations. This project will provide a transferable model of the leadership and organisational characteristics required for success among nonprofit church organisations. The model will provide opportunities for strengthening the support structures of nonprofits who play a critical role in helping needy families and individuals live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. The study addresses t ....Proximal and organizational leadership and climate as predictors of key performance in non-profit organizations. This project will provide a transferable model of the leadership and organisational characteristics required for success among nonprofit church organisations. The model will provide opportunities for strengthening the support structures of nonprofits who play a critical role in helping needy families and individuals live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. The study addresses the National Research Priority of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Priority Goal 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.' In addition, the model will provide benchmarking opportunities with other nonprofits both in Australia and internationally and will contribute to the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas. Read moreRead less
Assessing Organisational IT Infrastructure Capacity for Knowledge Strategy Support. Many organisations view knowledge as an important strategic asset. Often, organisations' historic investments in IT infrastructure predate their current knowledge strategy. Such situations raise challenges since past conceptions of IT infrastructure may only loosely link to the organisation's present knowledge initiatives. The proposed project will develop a methodology to assess the capacity of an organisation' ....Assessing Organisational IT Infrastructure Capacity for Knowledge Strategy Support. Many organisations view knowledge as an important strategic asset. Often, organisations' historic investments in IT infrastructure predate their current knowledge strategy. Such situations raise challenges since past conceptions of IT infrastructure may only loosely link to the organisation's present knowledge initiatives. The proposed project will develop a methodology to assess the capacity of an organisation's IT infrastructure to support an intended knowledge strategy. Outcomes will include detailed frameworks for analysing an organisation's knowledge strategy emphasis and direction, and the strengths and weaknesses of its IT infrastructure to support the strategy. The methodology will be validated in three to six organisations.Read moreRead less
Work-Life Integration: Developing the 'Dual Agenda' in Theory and Practice. This project addresses the important and urgent need to reconcile organizational efficiency with employee needs to balance work, personal and family life. Current research indicates that the adoption of standard ?family-friendly? policies is hindered by traditional, gendered work processes, organizational norms and structures. A new approach called the ?dual agenda? for change is advocated to resolve this problem. This p ....Work-Life Integration: Developing the 'Dual Agenda' in Theory and Practice. This project addresses the important and urgent need to reconcile organizational efficiency with employee needs to balance work, personal and family life. Current research indicates that the adoption of standard ?family-friendly? policies is hindered by traditional, gendered work processes, organizational norms and structures. A new approach called the ?dual agenda? for change is advocated to resolve this problem. This project tests the application of the ?dual agenda? in two large Australian organisations. The data produced will identify policies and processes which meet the ?dual agenda? of gender equitable, improved work-life outcomes for employees and improved business outcomes for organizations.Read moreRead less
Assessment of Innovation Capability Models to Create Innovation Driven Companies. The aim of the proposed study is to develop and test innovation management capability models. After general development of the central constructs, application to nationally important areas of e-commerce, sustainable development, and new product development (NPD) will be conducted. The project will develop and validate Best Practice Innovation Capability models for the creation of innovation-driven companies.The pr ....Assessment of Innovation Capability Models to Create Innovation Driven Companies. The aim of the proposed study is to develop and test innovation management capability models. After general development of the central constructs, application to nationally important areas of e-commerce, sustainable development, and new product development (NPD) will be conducted. The project will develop and validate Best Practice Innovation Capability models for the creation of innovation-driven companies.The proposal responds to the Australian Government's Innovation Report (2001) call for ?..the strategic vision and long term commitment to create an environment that encourages ideas-an environment in which innovation will thrive?. This research will provide an integrated approach to innovation management for both researchers and practitioners.Read moreRead less