On-line training for small business: Creating a best practice model. By evaluating the current training delivery methods used to inform small business managers this project will provide a best practice model to meet the specific training needs of those working in this sector. This model will encourage increased training participation by small business managers and provide the impetus for development of new on-line learning options. The project outcomes offer the opportunity for growth and deve ....On-line training for small business: Creating a best practice model. By evaluating the current training delivery methods used to inform small business managers this project will provide a best practice model to meet the specific training needs of those working in this sector. This model will encourage increased training participation by small business managers and provide the impetus for development of new on-line learning options. The project outcomes offer the opportunity for growth and development in small businesses. In turn, small business expansion offers Australia greater economic growth and at the local level also increases employment opportunities.Read moreRead less
Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefit ....Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefits. In contribution to NRP 3.5, promoting an innovation culture and economy, high-technology firms will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship.Read moreRead less
Disability entrepreneurship in Australia. Disability entrepreneurship in Australia. This project aims to study disability entrepreneurs who run private enterprises in Australia, their experiences, the contributions they make and the barriers they face. Private and social entrepreneurship is an innovative response to the considerable economic and social exclusion people with disability face in Australia. People with disability have a relatively high rate of entrepreneurship but research on disabi ....Disability entrepreneurship in Australia. Disability entrepreneurship in Australia. This project aims to study disability entrepreneurs who run private enterprises in Australia, their experiences, the contributions they make and the barriers they face. Private and social entrepreneurship is an innovative response to the considerable economic and social exclusion people with disability face in Australia. People with disability have a relatively high rate of entrepreneurship but research on disability entrepreneurship in Australia is almost non-existent. The introduction of the NDIS will create new opportunities for disability entrepreneurship. This project is expected to develop new policy initiatives, including a pilot program for new disability entrepreneurs in Sydney.Read moreRead less
Strategic responses of Australian family-owned businesses in the manufacturing sector to the pressures of globalisation. It is critical that Australian family owned manufacturing businesses respond in the most advantageous way to the pressures of globalisation. Possible strategic responses include selling out to larger companies that have a stronger strategic position, competing off-shore, or take a niche position in the value chain. This research will use a series of case studies to determine t ....Strategic responses of Australian family-owned businesses in the manufacturing sector to the pressures of globalisation. It is critical that Australian family owned manufacturing businesses respond in the most advantageous way to the pressures of globalisation. Possible strategic responses include selling out to larger companies that have a stronger strategic position, competing off-shore, or take a niche position in the value chain. This research will use a series of case studies to determine the contingent factors that best explain strategic response within the ownership and management structure of the family business, and track the impact of specific strategic choices. From this may flow some general principles of appropriate strategic responses given a range of circumstances.Read moreRead less
Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability ....Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability employment services currently do not have means for competitor analysis even though it is recognised as integral to business planning. We expect that organisations will use the system, making more informed decisions, improving their performance, and improving their influence in discussions with the funding body.Read moreRead less
Negotiation style choice and performance in non-equity business partnerships: An empirical assessment. Business relationships, in general, and non-equity business partnerships, in particular, are increasingly important in accomplishing commercial and community objectives in Australia. While businesses focus on purposefully negotiated agreements to drive the performance of these collaborations, an all too large majority fail. This study will result in theoretical and empirical contributions to ou ....Negotiation style choice and performance in non-equity business partnerships: An empirical assessment. Business relationships, in general, and non-equity business partnerships, in particular, are increasingly important in accomplishing commercial and community objectives in Australia. While businesses focus on purposefully negotiated agreements to drive the performance of these collaborations, an all too large majority fail. This study will result in theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of negotiation behaviour and related performance effects in non-equity business partnerships; hence, filling a gap in the literature. The findings will significantly benefit those organisations being involved in partnering by providing recommendations for negotiating these partnerships more effectively; hence, reducing their failure rate and achieving important objectives.Read moreRead less
The Adoption of Information Technologies by Rural General Practitioners: A Socio-Technical Analysis. Many information technology (IT) products have been developed to support general practitioners (GPs) in aspects of their work (GPSRG, 1998). It is apparent that GPs are not making best use of these systems. The question is: if IT applications have been developed, why are GPs reluctant to use them? This study contrasts two approaches to innovation in researching the adoption of IT by rural gener ....The Adoption of Information Technologies by Rural General Practitioners: A Socio-Technical Analysis. Many information technology (IT) products have been developed to support general practitioners (GPs) in aspects of their work (GPSRG, 1998). It is apparent that GPs are not making best use of these systems. The question is: if IT applications have been developed, why are GPs reluctant to use them? This study contrasts two approaches to innovation in researching the adoption of IT by rural general practitioners. It aims to identify and model socio-technical factors that enable and inhibit the uptake of IT.
Read moreRead less
Organizational Innovation Adoption: The Effect of External, Technology Diffusion Agencies. Organizational innovation is imperative in maintaining international competitiveness, but less than one quarter of Australian manufacturing companies adopt innovations. While previous studies have identified a large number of organisational factors affecting adoption decisions, little research has examined the effect of external, technology diffusion agencies. Our proposed research uses advanced statistica ....Organizational Innovation Adoption: The Effect of External, Technology Diffusion Agencies. Organizational innovation is imperative in maintaining international competitiveness, but less than one quarter of Australian manufacturing companies adopt innovations. While previous studies have identified a large number of organisational factors affecting adoption decisions, little research has examined the effect of external, technology diffusion agencies. Our proposed research uses advanced statistical modelling and qualitative methods to study the interaction between organisational factors and external agencies in the adoption process. Our aim is to understand how external agencies and policy information is used in the adoption process in order to identify good practices for these agencies.Read moreRead less
Collaborative Commerce for SMEs in Regional Knowledge Networks. This research project will investigate the most effective and efficient models for regional SMEs to engage in collaborative online commerce. The study will evaluate different models of (cross) regional collaboration and the knowledge management support mechanisms needed to facilitate these. An online assessment system will be developed which can be used by SMEs, SME clusters and local government to identify best fit models for c-com ....Collaborative Commerce for SMEs in Regional Knowledge Networks. This research project will investigate the most effective and efficient models for regional SMEs to engage in collaborative online commerce. The study will evaluate different models of (cross) regional collaboration and the knowledge management support mechanisms needed to facilitate these. An online assessment system will be developed which can be used by SMEs, SME clusters and local government to identify best fit models for c-commerce. A methodology for benefits appraisal of c-commerce will be made available for continual monitoring of real value accrual. Policy guides will be developed for local government identifying best practice models for ICT infastructure development.Read moreRead less
Survival of Australia's Family Farms: Capital Raising and Credit Access. Family-run farms are an integral part of rural Australia. Given the evolving global financial crisis and the expanding complexity of managing a family farm in Australia due to increasing competition from large incorporated holdings and overseas producers, a persisting drought, rising climate variability, and constraining carbon markets, one critical issue for the sustainability of family farms is their ability to access an ....Survival of Australia's Family Farms: Capital Raising and Credit Access. Family-run farms are an integral part of rural Australia. Given the evolving global financial crisis and the expanding complexity of managing a family farm in Australia due to increasing competition from large incorporated holdings and overseas producers, a persisting drought, rising climate variability, and constraining carbon markets, one critical issue for the sustainability of family farms is their ability to access and manage successfully competitive sources of credit. This study examines the extent to which family farms are currently at a disadvantage, and what policies could be implemented to ensure their sustainability into the future via access to competitive lines of credit and appropriate financial management practices.Read moreRead less