An Investigation of Export Performance Determinants Across Service Types. The objective of this research is to investigate the export performance drivers of services firms, and consider how these drivers differ across service types. Previous research into export performance drivers has focused primarily on manufacturers. However, theory in services marketing suggests that there are not only key differences between service firms and manufacturers, but also key differences across different service ....An Investigation of Export Performance Determinants Across Service Types. The objective of this research is to investigate the export performance drivers of services firms, and consider how these drivers differ across service types. Previous research into export performance drivers has focused primarily on manufacturers. However, theory in services marketing suggests that there are not only key differences between service firms and manufacturers, but also key differences across different service types. This research is both timely and critical given the recently stated Federal Government objective of doubling the number of exporters over the next five years, and the fact that the services sector is the fastest growing export sector.Read moreRead less
The reality of China's socialist market economy: the emergence of labour segmentation and inequality. Australia's current regional and economic security is predicated on China's stability and prosperity. This project provides a unique opportunity for Australian organisations and institutions to gain a better understanding of the complex economic, regulatory and social issues that surround the problem of labour segmentation and inequality in China.
Effects of Experiential Retail Strategies on Store Patronage and Consumer Purchase Behaviour. Recent years have seen an increased interest in industry and academia in what is known as 'experiential retail'. Not much is known however about what generates and determines a retail experience from the consumer's point of view and what are the short and long-term effects of such a strategy on consumer behaviour. This study will examine these issues by way of a field experiment conducted in stores of P ....Effects of Experiential Retail Strategies on Store Patronage and Consumer Purchase Behaviour. Recent years have seen an increased interest in industry and academia in what is known as 'experiential retail'. Not much is known however about what generates and determines a retail experience from the consumer's point of view and what are the short and long-term effects of such a strategy on consumer behaviour. This study will examine these issues by way of a field experiment conducted in stores of PAINTRIGHT, a cooperative of specialist paint retailers. A survey approach will be complemented with extensive qualitative investigation to allow a better understanding and assessment of the effects of experiential retail strategies.Read moreRead less
The impact of self-management training on staff satisfaction, absenteeism and an organisation's service culture. Self-management training has been widely suggested as a way to improve organisational performance. Using a classic training intervention approach, the present project will experimentally examine whether such training improves attendance and well-being at work and whether it creates a more positive approach to customers. Further, the study will examine whether changes are maintained ....The impact of self-management training on staff satisfaction, absenteeism and an organisation's service culture. Self-management training has been widely suggested as a way to improve organisational performance. Using a classic training intervention approach, the present project will experimentally examine whether such training improves attendance and well-being at work and whether it creates a more positive approach to customers. Further, the study will examine whether changes are maintained over time. The study will also test whether self-management training improves employees' perceptions of their organisation's service culture and increases their willingness to provide appropriate customer service. The practical implications of such training interventions for Human Resource Management practices in service organisations will also be evaluated.Read moreRead less
Virtual Innovation Clusters: the Grid and Customer Relationship Management. Innovation Clusters are seen as geographically based and focussed on product development. Recent studies however indicate that technical innovation in geographic clusters is lower than geographically dispersed companies, and that their competitiveness arises from innovations in tailoring products and marketing. The emergence of the ?Grid? enhances the capabilities of ?Virtual? Clusters. Through installation of a Grid Por ....Virtual Innovation Clusters: the Grid and Customer Relationship Management. Innovation Clusters are seen as geographically based and focussed on product development. Recent studies however indicate that technical innovation in geographic clusters is lower than geographically dispersed companies, and that their competitiveness arises from innovations in tailoring products and marketing. The emergence of the ?Grid? enhances the capabilities of ?Virtual? Clusters. Through installation of a Grid Portal and Grid-enabling analysis tools, we export the capabilities of a geographical cluster around Europe's leading computational facility and contrast this with a Virtual Cluster in Australia, where we demonstrate an innovative application of High-Performance Computing to modelling consumer behaviour and managing customer relations.Read moreRead less
Idea Sources for Product Innovation in Australian Frontier Technology: The Case of the Australian IT Industry. The source of new product ideas, and how new ideas are generated, is a research area that is not well understood in the management literature and frontier industries such as information technology. The aim of the proposed study is to identify and compare what idea sources (e.g., competitor sources or customer sources) are most useful for Australian firms to generate breakthrough product ....Idea Sources for Product Innovation in Australian Frontier Technology: The Case of the Australian IT Industry. The source of new product ideas, and how new ideas are generated, is a research area that is not well understood in the management literature and frontier industries such as information technology. The aim of the proposed study is to identify and compare what idea sources (e.g., competitor sources or customer sources) are most useful for Australian firms to generate breakthrough product innovations in frontier industries (in this case the IT industry). It also aims to improve our theoretical understanding of the link between market orientation and innovation sources.Read moreRead less
Bahavioural Determinants of the Adoption of Forward Market by Australian Wool Producers. It is estimated that 85% of Australian wool is sold in Auction, making it the dominant market system to sell wool. However, wool prices have fluctuated significantly in the auction system resulting in wool producers looking for alternative market systems. The Forward Market (selling wool in advance directly to the traders) is one such alternative market system which could offer guaranteed price to the wool p ....Bahavioural Determinants of the Adoption of Forward Market by Australian Wool Producers. It is estimated that 85% of Australian wool is sold in Auction, making it the dominant market system to sell wool. However, wool prices have fluctuated significantly in the auction system resulting in wool producers looking for alternative market systems. The Forward Market (selling wool in advance directly to the traders) is one such alternative market system which could offer guaranteed price to the wool producers. Despite its obvious advantages only 7% of wool producers sell wool through Forward Market system. This project investigates the behavioural determinants for the adoption of Forward Market system by the wool producers. We will develop a valid and reliable adoption model using Structural Equation Modelling approach through two rounds of data collection from the wool producers. The results will enhance wool industry's understanding of producers? response to the Forward Market system and thus help the policy makers to promote the alternative market system effectively. 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.
Read moreRead less
Understanding civil society activists. The growing role and importance of civil society groups demands an understanding of their philosophical and intellectual underpinnings and who the people are that support their agendas. This project provides a multifaceted picture of the supporters of three critical social causes: environmental sustainability, animal welfare and economic globalisation. Understanding who these people are and what motivates them will give us a better understanding of many o ....Understanding civil society activists. The growing role and importance of civil society groups demands an understanding of their philosophical and intellectual underpinnings and who the people are that support their agendas. This project provides a multifaceted picture of the supporters of three critical social causes: environmental sustainability, animal welfare and economic globalisation. Understanding who these people are and what motivates them will give us a better understanding of many of the drivers of our own economic and social future, thereby helping to strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
How Australian industries are pooling innovation resources and why this matters. Common pooling of resources for innovation is an emerging phenomenon in several Australian industries. This project will seek to explain why this is occurring, using insights from economic theory, and how pooling is harnessed for wider public good.