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
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
Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector: Challenges and Prospects. The proposed research addressed two of the National Research Priorities, viz., promoting an environmentally sustainable Australia (Goal 2: Transforming existing industries), and promoting and maintaining good health (Goal 4: strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric). The research findings will identify best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibili ....Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector: Challenges and Prospects. The proposed research addressed two of the National Research Priorities, viz., promoting an environmentally sustainable Australia (Goal 2: Transforming existing industries), and promoting and maintaining good health (Goal 4: strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric). The research findings will identify best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibility in the SME sector thus contributing to the creation of environmentally and socially sustainable workplaces. By integrating perspectives from multiple stakeholders the research also addresses community environmental and social concerns.Read moreRead less
Harnessing Eco-Friendly Markets to Protect our Natural Resources - Towards A Demand-Driven Paradigm of Sustainable Tourism. The tourism industry makes an important contribution to Australia's national revenues. However, the price the nation pays for tourism is excessive use of natural resources: we are selling the exploitation of our country. This project aims at finding, describing and attracting tourists with a basic interest in environmental protection to visit Australia. By doing so, tourism ....Harnessing Eco-Friendly Markets to Protect our Natural Resources - Towards A Demand-Driven Paradigm of Sustainable Tourism. The tourism industry makes an important contribution to Australia's national revenues. However, the price the nation pays for tourism is excessive use of natural resources: we are selling the exploitation of our country. This project aims at finding, describing and attracting tourists with a basic interest in environmental protection to visit Australia. By doing so, tourism revenues can still be generated for the benefit of Australia while the environmental footprints left behind when the tourists fly back to their home countries can be reduced. Read moreRead less
Modelling the Dynamics of Supply Chain Alignment: Linking Customer Behaviour to Internal Capabilities. National social and economic development is impacted and shaped by the quality of decisions made by industry leaders who work in uncertain and risky environments. Nowhere is uncertainty and risk greater than in the Australian business community where success or failure depends on the way relationships with suppliers and customers are managed. Supply chain relationship decisions are often made ....Modelling the Dynamics of Supply Chain Alignment: Linking Customer Behaviour to Internal Capabilities. National social and economic development is impacted and shaped by the quality of decisions made by industry leaders who work in uncertain and risky environments. Nowhere is uncertainty and risk greater than in the Australian business community where success or failure depends on the way relationships with suppliers and customers are managed. Supply chain relationship decisions are often made in situations and contexts in which there is inadequate theory, research findings, or more generally insufficient knowledge and experience. This study will provide a rare opportunity to learn from a global supply chain leader and thereby make a contribution to national social and economic prosperity. 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
Institutional logics in organisations: The interplay between managerial and professional logics in hospitals. In community surveys, health is consistently regarded as the most important issue by Australian voters. Healthcare is particularly relevant in Queensland, where unprecedented population growth has increased waiting lists. Difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff in Queensland's public hospitals are well-publicised. This research examines how organisational practices withi ....Institutional logics in organisations: The interplay between managerial and professional logics in hospitals. In community surveys, health is consistently regarded as the most important issue by Australian voters. Healthcare is particularly relevant in Queensland, where unprecedented population growth has increased waiting lists. Difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff in Queensland's public hospitals are well-publicised. This research examines how organisational practices within hospitals contribute to these challenges in delivering quality healthcare. Improved work practices, staff retention and hospital performance will result from a better understanding of the interaction of managerial and professional logics in decision making and problem solving in the day-to-day practice of public healthcare.Read moreRead less
Director identity, identification and information flows as predictors of board monitoring, resource provision and organisational performance. Improving the corporate governance of companies has the potential to significantly and profoundly improve our national wealth and social capital. A 0.5% performance gain in listed companies would create an extra $50B for the 55% of Australians that invest in equity markets. Systemic governance improvements can lower the cost of capital for the nation, th ....Director identity, identification and information flows as predictors of board monitoring, resource provision and organisational performance. Improving the corporate governance of companies has the potential to significantly and profoundly improve our national wealth and social capital. A 0.5% performance gain in listed companies would create an extra $50B for the 55% of Australians that invest in equity markets. Systemic governance improvements can lower the cost of capital for the nation, thus improving our international competitiveness. Our findings equally apply to the important not-for-profit sector. Finally, corporate collapses harm shareholders, employees, suppliers creditors and the general community. Quite simply, the ethical and social fibre of society reflects the ethics and values of corporations built into our governance system.Read moreRead less