Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector: Challenges and Prospects. The proposed research addressed two of the National Research Priorities, viz., promoting an environmentally sustainable Australia (Goal 2: Transforming existing industries), and promoting and maintaining good health (Goal 4: strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric). The research findings will identify best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibili ....Environmental and Social Responsibility in the Small and Medium Sized Enterprise Sector: Challenges and Prospects. The proposed research addressed two of the National Research Priorities, viz., promoting an environmentally sustainable Australia (Goal 2: Transforming existing industries), and promoting and maintaining good health (Goal 4: strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric). The research findings will identify best practices in the areas of environmental and social responsibility in the SME sector thus contributing to the creation of environmentally and socially sustainable workplaces. By integrating perspectives from multiple stakeholders the research also addresses community environmental and social concerns.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
Managing Transformational Change: A Discursive Approach. This research program will help to improve business competitiveness, which is predicated on the ability to manage transformational change, and add to the Australian repertoire of effective change practices. It will provide insights into social innovation which depends upon effective inter-organizational collaboration by organizations from different sectors to bring about social change. It will help managers in diverse organizations deal wi ....Managing Transformational Change: A Discursive Approach. This research program will help to improve business competitiveness, which is predicated on the ability to manage transformational change, and add to the Australian repertoire of effective change practices. It will provide insights into social innovation which depends upon effective inter-organizational collaboration by organizations from different sectors to bring about social change. It will help managers in diverse organizations deal with issues of sustainability and human health which depend upon managerial capacity in addition to scientific endeavours. It will help locate Australia as a centre of expertise in the use of discourse analysis in organization and management theory. Read moreRead less
Research on Organizational Discourse. This collaboration links Melbourne and Sydney Universities with McGill University and Kings College, the University of London in an international research network that will conduct research and doctoral training on organizational discourse. Organizational discourse represents an important new theoretical and methodological development in organization and management theory and, in carrying out this program, researchers will be working at the leading edge of t ....Research on Organizational Discourse. This collaboration links Melbourne and Sydney Universities with McGill University and Kings College, the University of London in an international research network that will conduct research and doctoral training on organizational discourse. Organizational discourse represents an important new theoretical and methodological development in organization and management theory and, in carrying out this program, researchers will be working at the leading edge of theory development, as well as developing research expertise in Australia. Projects include a Handbook, a special issue of a leading international journal, a new journal, a research methods book, an ARC Discovery application and a series of workshops.Read moreRead less
Harnessing Eco-Friendly Markets to Protect our Natural Resources - Towards A Demand-Driven Paradigm of Sustainable Tourism. The tourism industry makes an important contribution to Australia's national revenues. However, the price the nation pays for tourism is excessive use of natural resources: we are selling the exploitation of our country. This project aims at finding, describing and attracting tourists with a basic interest in environmental protection to visit Australia. By doing so, tourism ....Harnessing Eco-Friendly Markets to Protect our Natural Resources - Towards A Demand-Driven Paradigm of Sustainable Tourism. The tourism industry makes an important contribution to Australia's national revenues. However, the price the nation pays for tourism is excessive use of natural resources: we are selling the exploitation of our country. This project aims at finding, describing and attracting tourists with a basic interest in environmental protection to visit Australia. By doing so, tourism revenues can still be generated for the benefit of Australia while the environmental footprints left behind when the tourists fly back to their home countries can be reduced. Read moreRead less
Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflic ....Towards Resolution of Franchising Conflict. Franchising is a major sector in the Australian economy with annual turnover greater than $128 billion. Some 35% of franchisors report being involved in substantial disputes with franchisees. This project will investigate the causes of conflict in franchising relationships. Benefits will include a predictive model to identify where conflict is likely to occur in franchising conditions, thereby allowing participants the opportunity to address conflict before it escalates into dispute. Case studies and recommendations will inform participants and regulatory authorities so as to prevent conflict escalating. This will create a more 'level playing field' for participants and improve financial security for all stakeholders.Read moreRead less
Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most s ....Flexible Forms of Organising, Management Control Systems and Performance in Organisations Fighting Serious and Organised Crime. The criminal networks behind serious and organised crime are becoming more fluid and flexible. In response, law enforcement organisations are creating flexible structural arrangements and experimenting with management control systems to balance the need for both flexibility and control. This research will identify combinations of structure and management controls most suited to this task. Subsequent benefits will flow to the community/nation through more effective and efficient policing of serious and organised crime. More broadly, organisations in fast changing business environments will benefit by understanding how to design and manage their structure and management control systems to enhance performance.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
Patterns of change in organizational structures in hyper-competitive environments. Aim: Longitudinal study of organizational structures in a highly competitive industry, focusing on change from traditional to new organizational structures. Our conceptual framework of retention, coexistence, replacement and integration enables assessment of patterns of structural change over time and tests of resource based and institutional theories about why organizational structures change.
Significance: Ou ....Patterns of change in organizational structures in hyper-competitive environments. Aim: Longitudinal study of organizational structures in a highly competitive industry, focusing on change from traditional to new organizational structures. Our conceptual framework of retention, coexistence, replacement and integration enables assessment of patterns of structural change over time and tests of resource based and institutional theories about why organizational structures change.
Significance: Our conceptual framework is innovative and provides a template for assessing current arguments about structural change and performance.
Outcomes:
Theoretical: greater understanding of relevance of organizational change theories.
Practical: provision to managers of knowledge about new patterns of structuring organizations and which ones are associated with superior performance.
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Designing global organizations to create local competitive advantage: An evolutionary perspective of ING Direct. Little systematic research exists on how organizational design and global strategy interact to achieve success. Such research is necessary in light of recent poor track records of Australian companies expanding globally. The project will assist by analysing the design of a highly successful network-based global organisation, ING Direct, using an evolutionary perspective. It will cont ....Designing global organizations to create local competitive advantage: An evolutionary perspective of ING Direct. Little systematic research exists on how organizational design and global strategy interact to achieve success. Such research is necessary in light of recent poor track records of Australian companies expanding globally. The project will assist by analysing the design of a highly successful network-based global organisation, ING Direct, using an evolutionary perspective. It will contribute to debates within two literatures (i) new organisational forms and (ii) multinational literature on strategy/structure. Applying a novel conceptual framework using concepts of retention, adaptation, transference and integration it will examine changing organizational design practices in reaction to both local conditions and the global network.Read moreRead less