Re-Theorising Employee Voice in Times of Change. This project aims to generate new knowledge of the concept of employee voice as a part of organisational realignment throughout and following the CoVid-19 pandemic. The project aims to build a better theoretical modelling of efficient, effective “employee voice pathways” for the first time, including a understanding how voice changes over time. When confronted with a major external calamity, employee voice can play a critical role in any organisat ....Re-Theorising Employee Voice in Times of Change. This project aims to generate new knowledge of the concept of employee voice as a part of organisational realignment throughout and following the CoVid-19 pandemic. The project aims to build a better theoretical modelling of efficient, effective “employee voice pathways” for the first time, including a understanding how voice changes over time. When confronted with a major external calamity, employee voice can play a critical role in any organisation's success, as well as the employee wellbeing. Expected outcomes include rigorous empirical evidence and theoretical developments to inform new policy and support organisations' capacity to survive and thrive, as well a support employee wellbeing.Read moreRead less
How Can High-Performance Human Resource Management Improve Workforce Retention in Hospitals? Workforce shortages in hospitals are a major problem in Australia and internationally. Shortages may lead to a reduced provision of health services, lengthy waiting lists for treatment, excessive workloads for staff and increased likelihood of adverse outcomes. Despite a growth in labour supply, workforce shortages reflect, in part, an inability of hospitals to retain trained staff. Benefits to the com ....How Can High-Performance Human Resource Management Improve Workforce Retention in Hospitals? Workforce shortages in hospitals are a major problem in Australia and internationally. Shortages may lead to a reduced provision of health services, lengthy waiting lists for treatment, excessive workloads for staff and increased likelihood of adverse outcomes. Despite a growth in labour supply, workforce shortages reflect, in part, an inability of hospitals to retain trained staff. Benefits to the community of increasing workforce retention include: improved continuity and quality of care; increased throughput of patients; lower workforce recruitment costs; less staff burnout; and lower costs for training and educating new staff. Read moreRead less
The Role of Employment Relations in the Competitive Strategies of Low Cost Airlines in Australia. Employment-relations issues are key determinants of an airline's performance. Air transport is important for Australia. Australia has experienced failing airlines (e.g. Ansett, Compass); its most successful airline, Qantas, charges high fares and one of its priorities is improving its employment relations. This project will investigate airlines' critical success factors with special attention to the ....The Role of Employment Relations in the Competitive Strategies of Low Cost Airlines in Australia. Employment-relations issues are key determinants of an airline's performance. Air transport is important for Australia. Australia has experienced failing airlines (e.g. Ansett, Compass); its most successful airline, Qantas, charges high fares and one of its priorities is improving its employment relations. This project will investigate airlines' critical success factors with special attention to the links between corporate strategies and employment relations. Besides investigating Qantas, it will link with MIT's Global Airline Industry Program to consider the transformation of Australia's aviation industry and, in particular, the innovations pioneered by low-cost airlines: JetStar and Virgin Blue.Read moreRead less
Emerging Workplaces and Employment Relations Innovation. Studying emerging workplaces enables us to anticipate important trends and problems in the future of employment relations (ER). We will be able to better understand ER innovation and innovation culture. Emerging workplaces are focal for translating innovation into productive outcomes, but many emerging workplaces (particularly in new businesses) fail due to poor management. This project will provide practical guidance for raising their suc ....Emerging Workplaces and Employment Relations Innovation. Studying emerging workplaces enables us to anticipate important trends and problems in the future of employment relations (ER). We will be able to better understand ER innovation and innovation culture. Emerging workplaces are focal for translating innovation into productive outcomes, but many emerging workplaces (particularly in new businesses) fail due to poor management. This project will provide practical guidance for raising their success rate. It will create important advances in a neglected area, enhancing the knowledge base of the field. It has implications for the social and economic fabric through better understanding of the impact of industrial legislation, of key interest to policy makers aiming to improve equity.Read moreRead less
Preparing Carbon Molecular Sieve Membrane (CMSM) for Olefin/Paraffin Separation. Carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM) presents superior selectivity and stability for many gas separation processes. This technology is energy saving, environmental friendly and with minimal operating cost. The project will develop CMSMs for the separation of olefin/paraffin, particularly, the propane/propylene mixture which is currently separated by the energy intensive cryogenic distillation in industry. The pro ....Preparing Carbon Molecular Sieve Membrane (CMSM) for Olefin/Paraffin Separation. Carbon molecular sieve membrane (CMSM) presents superior selectivity and stability for many gas separation processes. This technology is energy saving, environmental friendly and with minimal operating cost. The project will develop CMSMs for the separation of olefin/paraffin, particularly, the propane/propylene mixture which is currently separated by the energy intensive cryogenic distillation in industry. The project involves both experimental works and theoretical studies and will provide: (1) techniques for preparing CMSMs for olefin/paraffin separation; (2) methods characterizing the micro-structure of CMSMs; (3) mathematical models predicting multicomponent gas permeation/separation properties on CMSMs; (4) effect of impurities on the separation processes. Read moreRead less
An Integrated Biotechnological Process for Production of Lactic Acid from Carbohydrate-Waste Streams by Rhizopus sp. Lactic acid is the most widely occurring multifunctional organic acid. It has enormous applications in food and food-related industries, and great potential use for production of biodegradable and biocompatible polylactate polymers. The aim of this research is to develop an innovative biotechnological process, incorporating simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which int ....An Integrated Biotechnological Process for Production of Lactic Acid from Carbohydrate-Waste Streams by Rhizopus sp. Lactic acid is the most widely occurring multifunctional organic acid. It has enormous applications in food and food-related industries, and great potential use for production of biodegradable and biocompatible polylactate polymers. The aim of this research is to develop an innovative biotechnological process, incorporating simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which integrates the production of lactic acid with the treatment of high strength food industry ?effluent? streams - carbohydrate waste streams. The proposed SSF process will cultivate an identified fungal Rhizopus sp strain on the waste streams, as production substrates, leading to an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable new technology for the food industry.Read moreRead less
Privacy, Data Protection and Market Structure. The rise of the digital economy has led to an unprecedented scale of data collection, storage and processing, creating new privacy risks for individuals. This project will provide an economic analysis of the incentives and institutions necessary to ensure data is sufficiently protected while also providing adequate levels of privacy to individuals. It will do this by exploring the optimal design of privacy laws, data breach notification laws, and th ....Privacy, Data Protection and Market Structure. The rise of the digital economy has led to an unprecedented scale of data collection, storage and processing, creating new privacy risks for individuals. This project will provide an economic analysis of the incentives and institutions necessary to ensure data is sufficiently protected while also providing adequate levels of privacy to individuals. It will do this by exploring the optimal design of privacy laws, data breach notification laws, and the relationship between promoting competition and encouraging data protection investment. The outcomes of this research will contribute to the efforts of the federal government to build a secure and resilient digital infrastructure that supports the entire Australian knowledge economy.Read moreRead less
Power in the Union? An Examination of Women-only Unions in Japan and South Korea. This project will analyse the development of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Women-only unions have existed and still exist in a number of countries but despite the growing numbers of women in unions, the creation of women-only unions has not been a popular organising strategy for pursuing issues of importance to women workers. This project is innovative as it explores the contemporary (re)emergence of ....Power in the Union? An Examination of Women-only Unions in Japan and South Korea. This project will analyse the development of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Women-only unions have existed and still exist in a number of countries but despite the growing numbers of women in unions, the creation of women-only unions has not been a popular organising strategy for pursuing issues of importance to women workers. This project is innovative as it explores the contemporary (re)emergence of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea. Through interviews, this project will explore the Western theoretical concepts of 'same/difference' and examine their applicability to an analysis of women-only unions in Japan and South Korea.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
Nanostructured Degradable Polymer for Drug Delivery. The success of synthesising nanostructured degradable polymers will position Australia at the world forefront in the field of nanotechnology, bioengineering and healthcare sectors in both fundamental and applied research. This multi-disciplinary research has the potential to generate patentable technologies with economic benefits to Australia. The project also involves fundamental research into surface chemistry, nanostructure, polymer science ....Nanostructured Degradable Polymer for Drug Delivery. The success of synthesising nanostructured degradable polymers will position Australia at the world forefront in the field of nanotechnology, bioengineering and healthcare sectors in both fundamental and applied research. This multi-disciplinary research has the potential to generate patentable technologies with economic benefits to Australia. The project also involves fundamental research into surface chemistry, nanostructure, polymer sciences and will be a meaningful contribution to the advancement of scientific knowledge in Australia. All these will enhance the international competitive profile of Australia in the field of nanotechnology for drug delivery.Read moreRead less