Integrity, Leadership and Behaviour in Organisations. Recent high profile corporate scandals such as those involving Enron and HIH have demonstrated how important it is for leaders and managers to demonstrate integrity in their actions. However, organisational researchers have struggled to reach agreement on the qualities of character and behaviour that define integrity. This work draws on work in the philosophical tradition to propose a new multidimensional conceptualisation of leader integri ....Integrity, Leadership and Behaviour in Organisations. Recent high profile corporate scandals such as those involving Enron and HIH have demonstrated how important it is for leaders and managers to demonstrate integrity in their actions. However, organisational researchers have struggled to reach agreement on the qualities of character and behaviour that define integrity. This work draws on work in the philosophical tradition to propose a new multidimensional conceptualisation of leader integrity and to develop a measurement instrument for its assessment. The influence of leader integrity on the behaviour of leaders and subordinates is explored, and a program aimed at enhancing integrity in organisational leadership developed and trialled.Read moreRead less
Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against reco ....Corporate Transparency in the Asia Pacific Region: Factors Explaining Differences in Financial Disclosure Levels. The adequacy of corporate transparency, as evidenced by relevant disclosures and accounting measurement policies, is of concern to investors and regulators worldwide but notably in respect of companies located in the Asia Pacific region following the Asian financial crisis. The aim of this project is to assess financial disclosure levels in major countries in the region against recognised benchmarks especially International Accounting Standards and to evaluate the significance of factors associated with differences in disclosure levels. The results of this study will provide valuable insights for Australian standard setters as well as the IASB, IOSCO and the World Bank.Read moreRead less
Business and democracy: Power, profit and participation. The project aims to explain how business influences democracy. While business and democracy are mutually reinforcing domains in any healthy and vibrant society, there are concerns about the way corporations may unduly influence or even curtail democratic processes. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how industry translates economic power into political influence. This includes the development of a new theory of power and a m ....Business and democracy: Power, profit and participation. The project aims to explain how business influences democracy. While business and democracy are mutually reinforcing domains in any healthy and vibrant society, there are concerns about the way corporations may unduly influence or even curtail democratic processes. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how industry translates economic power into political influence. This includes the development of a new theory of power and a methodology for examining political connections. This should provide significant benefits to public dialogue and policymakers concerning the task of strengthening citizen voice and decision-making in Australia and globally. Read moreRead less
Survival of the fittest: The performance of franchised versus independent small business during economic uncertainty and recovery. The contribution of small business to the Australian economy is substantial. There are almost two million small businesses, representing 96% of all businesses in Australia. As the small business sector is Australia's largest employer, providing jobs for 46 percent of the private sector, it is important that they succeed. This research will analyse survival factors d ....Survival of the fittest: The performance of franchised versus independent small business during economic uncertainty and recovery. The contribution of small business to the Australian economy is substantial. There are almost two million small businesses, representing 96% of all businesses in Australia. As the small business sector is Australia's largest employer, providing jobs for 46 percent of the private sector, it is important that they succeed. This research will analyse survival factors during economic uncertainty in order to identify sustainable and enduring success strategies. The study will compare the performance of independently owned and franchised small businesses in both regional and urban communities. Benefits will include improved knowledge about the key factors that drive superior independent and franchised small business performance.Read moreRead less
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
STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE OF THE KOREAN CHAEBOL: CHANGES AFTER THE 1997 ECONOMIC CRISIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA. Korea is the third largest export market for Australia, however, analysis of the structure and strategy of Korea's largest corporations has been surprisingly neglected by Australian researchers. This project examines recent changes in the operation of the largest family controlled conglomerates in Korea (chaebol), which possess unique features in various aspects, within a dynamic ....STRATEGY AND STRUCTURE OF THE KOREAN CHAEBOL: CHANGES AFTER THE 1997 ECONOMIC CRISIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA. Korea is the third largest export market for Australia, however, analysis of the structure and strategy of Korea's largest corporations has been surprisingly neglected by Australian researchers. This project examines recent changes in the operation of the largest family controlled conglomerates in Korea (chaebol), which possess unique features in various aspects, within a dynamic historical perspective. Case studies will be conducted concentrating on changes of business structure and strategy within Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Daewoo, with particular attention to these companies, response to the 1997 economic crisis and its implications for major trading partners such as Australia.Read moreRead less
Managing human resources in an advanced economy from the perspective of emerging Chinese multinationals: the case of NWII in Australia. This project will investigate human resource management practices in the resources sector in Australia and China. The outcomes of this study will provide important theoretical and operational insights into Chinese foreign direct investment for stakeholders such as the Australian government, community, employees and their representatives.
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