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
Constructing a Chinese International Human Resource Management System in Regional Australia: The Case of CHALCO (The Aluminum Company of China). Australians will benefit from the project for it will: 1) increase the nation's resource base; 2) improve the balance of payments; 3) increase regional development, income and employment; 4) motivate other Chinese firms to invest in Australia; 5) contain social disputation and ensure the interests of multiple stakeholders will benefit from CHALCO's inve ....Constructing a Chinese International Human Resource Management System in Regional Australia: The Case of CHALCO (The Aluminum Company of China). Australians will benefit from the project for it will: 1) increase the nation's resource base; 2) improve the balance of payments; 3) increase regional development, income and employment; 4) motivate other Chinese firms to invest in Australia; 5) contain social disputation and ensure the interests of multiple stakeholders will benefit from CHALCO's investment; 6) help generate a good industrial relations climate in the region where the refinery is to be sited; and 9) induce the construction of improved regional social infrastructure. It will also enable Australia scholars to become world leaders in the study of Chinese MNC's policies and practices.Read moreRead less
Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The ....Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The findings will fill a significant gap in knowledge about the process of job generation and lead to a better understanding of the determinants of job quality from different perspectives, which can assist economic policy development.Read moreRead less
Efficiency, justice and voice: a study of effective ways to prevent and settle workplace disputes. Formal and informal dispute procedures are used to settle workplace conflict which, if not managed well, imposes major costs on society. This project aims to improve the design and implementation of dispute procedures. The research uses an innovative analytical approach based on the concepts of efficiency, workplace justice and employee voice.
Regions undergoing transition: the roles of unions and their peak bodies. The project aims to investigate how unions and their peak bodies can act in beneficial ways to promote regional socio-economic development. This project expects to generate knowledge of the processes of regional renewal, including the ways unions and their peak bodies may be involved. Expected outcomes include theory development and explanations of these processes of regional engagement to enhance regional transition. It w ....Regions undergoing transition: the roles of unions and their peak bodies. The project aims to investigate how unions and their peak bodies can act in beneficial ways to promote regional socio-economic development. This project expects to generate knowledge of the processes of regional renewal, including the ways unions and their peak bodies may be involved. Expected outcomes include theory development and explanations of these processes of regional engagement to enhance regional transition. It will also provide a comprehensive refinement of research methodologies for labour and regional studies. This should provide significant benefits enabling the development of engaged and inclusive transition policies at a regional level. It will benefit workers, their households and communities. 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
Testing the integration and differentiation of national employment systems: multinational enterprises in an international comparative context. Multinational enterprises play a leading role in shaping employment practices as their power disproportionately influences the direction of change in managing people. This project, conducted across six countries, enhances our understanding of how these organisations influence and shape the employment practices and systems in host contexts.
Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment ....Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment relations in Australia, the project will provide insights into the economic and social consequences of globalisation. By examining MNCs from the US, Germany and Japan, the project highlights the role of Australia's key trading partners and their influence on Australian industry and employment relations. Read moreRead less
Young people and work: pathways to industrial citizenship. This project will address repeated calls for research on young people's work from their own perspectives. It will explore how different groups of youth socialise through early employment and contribute to public policy which aim to enhance educational and employment opportunities for young people.
Social citizenship and employment for secondary school students. The study will guide communities, policy makers and social institutions about how best to encourage the development of social and workplace citizenship behaviour in young people at a time of multiple, intersecting and possibly contradictory social, policy and legislative changes. It will identify the structural mechanisms (via curriculum development, industry policies/practice and public policy development) through which young stu ....Social citizenship and employment for secondary school students. The study will guide communities, policy makers and social institutions about how best to encourage the development of social and workplace citizenship behaviour in young people at a time of multiple, intersecting and possibly contradictory social, policy and legislative changes. It will identify the structural mechanisms (via curriculum development, industry policies/practice and public policy development) through which young student-workers may become less vulnerable and more empowered in their labour market experiences. Ultimately, this will result in a stronger voice for young people and hence a strengthened social fabric in the domain of workRead moreRead less