Involving children in social research: balancing the risks and benefits. There is a growing consensus that children's involvement in social research is important, but considerable uncertainty remains around children's inclusion in research on 'sensitive' issues, reflecting concerns about how to balance children's protection with their participation. Key to this are deeply embedded assumptions and beliefs about children and childhood, especially concerning notions of capacity, agency, vulnerabili ....Involving children in social research: balancing the risks and benefits. There is a growing consensus that children's involvement in social research is important, but considerable uncertainty remains around children's inclusion in research on 'sensitive' issues, reflecting concerns about how to balance children's protection with their participation. Key to this are deeply embedded assumptions and beliefs about children and childhood, especially concerning notions of capacity, agency, vulnerability, dependency and the like. This project aims to better understand and address the tensions between the protection of children and their participation in research, and to explore how ethics committees, parents, other gatekeepers and children themselves manage and navigate these tensions.Read moreRead less
Building Better Brands: A Study of Australian Organizations and Consumers. The study is the first to be undertaken in the world to develop a knowledge management system of brand development and management. It focuses on understanding how branding strategies increase the competitiveness of Australian industry. The study also explores linkages of branding strategy to consumer perceptions of brand value. The model is firmly placed in a global market context, contrasting domestic, exported and im ....Building Better Brands: A Study of Australian Organizations and Consumers. The study is the first to be undertaken in the world to develop a knowledge management system of brand development and management. It focuses on understanding how branding strategies increase the competitiveness of Australian industry. The study also explores linkages of branding strategy to consumer perceptions of brand value. The model is firmly placed in a global market context, contrasting domestic, exported and imported brands. The focus is strongly orientated toward improving Australia's competitiveness and global performance. This study is vital as the economic superiority of strong nations is evident in the value and strength of their industries' brands.Read moreRead less
Time consistency, risk-mitigation and partially observable systems. This project aims to find optimal decision rules that mitigate risk in a time consistent manner for partially observable systems. Many problems in conservation management and engineering systems are dependent on random environments and entail risk of failure. The challenge of consistently minimising such a risk while achieving satisfactory and sustainable resource consumption is considerable. This project aims to develop analyti ....Time consistency, risk-mitigation and partially observable systems. This project aims to find optimal decision rules that mitigate risk in a time consistent manner for partially observable systems. Many problems in conservation management and engineering systems are dependent on random environments and entail risk of failure. The challenge of consistently minimising such a risk while achieving satisfactory and sustainable resource consumption is considerable. This project aims to develop analytical and numerical methods for optimal control in such scenarios. These methods will have application to fishery management, communication networks, power systems and social resource allocation scenarios.Read moreRead less
The impact of small business policy systems on small firm innovation and competitiveness in critical industry sectors. This research will examine the proposition that small business policy systems affect the structure and strategy of SMEs and in turn the sectors within which SMEs innovate and specialise. It will involve an analysis of SME policy systems; sectors of SME specialisation based on patent data, annual reports and firm web sites; and a longitudinal study of the strategy and structure o ....The impact of small business policy systems on small firm innovation and competitiveness in critical industry sectors. This research will examine the proposition that small business policy systems affect the structure and strategy of SMEs and in turn the sectors within which SMEs innovate and specialise. It will involve an analysis of SME policy systems; sectors of SME specialisation based on patent data, annual reports and firm web sites; and a longitudinal study of the strategy and structure of 29 case study firms in 3 sectors in 3 countries based on in-depth interviews and focus groups. Findings will provide a basis for improved policy advice concerning the mechanisms for encouraging small firm innovation and competitiveness in critical sectors.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Spatial and Social Drivers of Employment Transitions. This project reconsiders significant changes in the Australian labour market by utilising new conceptual tools based on temporal and spatial dimensions of productive activities and employment. The analysis provides an understanding of the socio-economic and spatial drivers of job and employment transitions and how they vary across Australia. The outcomes will be a new hierarchical model of labour market regions for assessin ....Understanding the Spatial and Social Drivers of Employment Transitions. This project reconsiders significant changes in the Australian labour market by utilising new conceptual tools based on temporal and spatial dimensions of productive activities and employment. The analysis provides an understanding of the socio-economic and spatial drivers of job and employment transitions and how they vary across Australia. The outcomes will be a new hierarchical model of labour market regions for assessing the social impact of employment transitions in regions, localities and remote areas providing evidence to inform region-specific policy. The innovative statistical methodology to enhance current analytical models of spatial variation in employment transitions will contribute significantly to international research. Read moreRead less
Knowledge and attitudes about life extension technology: public and stakeholder perspectives. This comprehensive investigation will contribute new knowledge that will help Australians to better cope with the social and economic consequences of an ageing population. New developments in the biosciences promise the possibility of extending human life past 120 years. This study will assist government, healthcare providers and researchers to understand the public reaction to such developments and en ....Knowledge and attitudes about life extension technology: public and stakeholder perspectives. This comprehensive investigation will contribute new knowledge that will help Australians to better cope with the social and economic consequences of an ageing population. New developments in the biosciences promise the possibility of extending human life past 120 years. This study will assist government, healthcare providers and researchers to understand the public reaction to such developments and enable them to plan for the future. The study will contribute to future strategic research and train a future researcher in the priority health goal of ageing well, ageing productively.Read moreRead less
Balancing the needs of customers and employees following service failure: A dyadic psychosocial approach. Service industries dominate Australia's economy. When service fails, conflicts frequently ensue, leaving customers and employees feeling angry and stressed. Consequent social and economic costs are enormous. This project addresses the research priority of promoting and maintaining good health by identifying ways in which customers and employees can resolve service problems such that particip ....Balancing the needs of customers and employees following service failure: A dyadic psychosocial approach. Service industries dominate Australia's economy. When service fails, conflicts frequently ensue, leaving customers and employees feeling angry and stressed. Consequent social and economic costs are enormous. This project addresses the research priority of promoting and maintaining good health by identifying ways in which customers and employees can resolve service problems such that participants' psychosocial needs are met and outcomes for both parties are optimised. Findings will strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric by providing strategies to increase customer satisfaction and reduce worker stress. Service firms will benefit from a more loyal customer-base, and reduced employee absenteeism, turnover and compensation claims. Read moreRead less
Customer Rage Spectrum Emotions in Service Failure Encounters: Linking Experience, Expression, Behaviour and Organisational Responses. Customer rage has recently received considerable attention in the press. Yet, organisations are ill-equipped to deal with this disturbing phenomenon. This ground-breaking research will help business and government service organisations better understand and respond to customer rage in order to avoid economic, social and emotional losses, and minimise damage to pr ....Customer Rage Spectrum Emotions in Service Failure Encounters: Linking Experience, Expression, Behaviour and Organisational Responses. Customer rage has recently received considerable attention in the press. Yet, organisations are ill-equipped to deal with this disturbing phenomenon. This ground-breaking research will help business and government service organisations better understand and respond to customer rage in order to avoid economic, social and emotional losses, and minimise damage to property and persons. Such practices should result in stress reduction among consumers and front-line employees, thereby lowering society's healthcare costs and improving citizens' overall quality of life. Since the research examines how customer rage varies across East-West cultures, the results will also have significant international impact. Read moreRead less
Market segmentation methodology: attacking the 'Too Hard' basket. Businesses embrace market segmentation to identify and target clients. However, poor segmentation analysis leads to poor segment choice. This project will develop tools to improve segmentation analysis and will test the resulting tools in tourism, foster care and climate change mitigating behaviours, and produce usable, transferable recommendations.
Effective Marketing Communication: Pre-existing Knowledge Structures and Contextual Effects. Applied findings in the area of sponsorship-linked marketing communications would support business, government and sponsored activities such as sport, art, and charity. Findings will also enhance the reputation of research in cognition and in business. Execution of the research will provide a national benefit by affording the opportunity of experience and training to a research associate as well as any P ....Effective Marketing Communication: Pre-existing Knowledge Structures and Contextual Effects. Applied findings in the area of sponsorship-linked marketing communications would support business, government and sponsored activities such as sport, art, and charity. Findings will also enhance the reputation of research in cognition and in business. Execution of the research will provide a national benefit by affording the opportunity of experience and training to a research associate as well as any PhD or honours students affiliated with the project. Further, application of the research findings will result in smart information use in an industry setting, where sponsors and events organisers stand to benefit from marketing campaigns that promote their messages more efficiently.Read moreRead less