Developing and testing a best practice model of enterprise bargaining in the retail sector. Recently, the Australian labour market has seen a decrease in the manufacturing sector and an increase in the retail sector. The SDA with over 230,000 members is the largest trade and industrial union in Australia. It negotiates EB Agreements on behalf of employees. This research will assess improved job satisfaction and job conditions - a key EB goal, which will have tangible benefits in reducing turnove ....Developing and testing a best practice model of enterprise bargaining in the retail sector. Recently, the Australian labour market has seen a decrease in the manufacturing sector and an increase in the retail sector. The SDA with over 230,000 members is the largest trade and industrial union in Australia. It negotiates EB Agreements on behalf of employees. This research will assess improved job satisfaction and job conditions - a key EB goal, which will have tangible benefits in reducing turnover of retail sector employees, recognised as a major problem for employers. This research will enhance effectiveness for unions and employers in the implementation of agreements commensurate with the needs of employees, the findings of which will have broad applicability across Australian industryRead moreRead less
Understanding low skilled men's access to jobs: An occupational case-study approach. The withdrawal of low skilled men from the labour force has been substantial over recent decades. As many as 40% of men without post-school qualifications do not have full-time jobs. This development has many negative social consequences. It damages the affected men's wellbeing, and that of their families. It reduces labour supply at a time of labour shortages. It increases dependency on the welfare system. ....Understanding low skilled men's access to jobs: An occupational case-study approach. The withdrawal of low skilled men from the labour force has been substantial over recent decades. As many as 40% of men without post-school qualifications do not have full-time jobs. This development has many negative social consequences. It damages the affected men's wellbeing, and that of their families. It reduces labour supply at a time of labour shortages. It increases dependency on the welfare system. This project will develop new understandings of the barriers low skill men face when they seek jobs in areas of rising employment, such as the service sector. It will provide an assessment of the possibilities of overcoming these barriers, and develop ideas about how best to enhance low skilled men's access to good jobs. Read moreRead less
Reconceptualising partnership: new options for effective partnerships between State governments and the third sector in employment services in Australia. The rapid devolution of employment services from the Commonwealth Employment Service to a model of contracted Job Network agencies assumes effective partnerships between Commonwealth, State, third sector and private organizations. Recent research suggests this is not the case. Furthermore, the industry partner, SACOSS, argues that the disparate ....Reconceptualising partnership: new options for effective partnerships between State governments and the third sector in employment services in Australia. The rapid devolution of employment services from the Commonwealth Employment Service to a model of contracted Job Network agencies assumes effective partnerships between Commonwealth, State, third sector and private organizations. Recent research suggests this is not the case. Furthermore, the industry partner, SACOSS, argues that the disparate requirements of Australian States in addressing local circumstances and diverse needs of disadvantaged jobseekers have not been met. This collaborative project will use network analysis methodology to assess alternative models of governance and identify best options for effective State/third sector partnerships that promote efficient and equitable labour markets.Read moreRead less
Job quality and care quality in aged care. The project aims to investigate how job quality and the quality of care are linked in residential and community-based aged care services. Population ageing and fewer informal carers place pressure on aged care provision across the OECD There is little understanding, at either the policy or workplace levels, of how the quality of aged care jobs affects the viability and quality of that provision. The project expects to improve knowledge about how job qua ....Job quality and care quality in aged care. The project aims to investigate how job quality and the quality of care are linked in residential and community-based aged care services. Population ageing and fewer informal carers place pressure on aged care provision across the OECD There is little understanding, at either the policy or workplace levels, of how the quality of aged care jobs affects the viability and quality of that provision. The project expects to improve knowledge about how job quality affects aged care quality; and identify care markets, policy regimes and work organisation that best support sustainable quality aged care.Read moreRead less
Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop pract ....Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop practical strategies to bridge the gap in expertise between policy development at government level and implementation in organisations. The goals are: to promote gender equality, and to enable better decision-making at the outset, to save time and money later.
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Strategic Business Principles for the Economic Development of New Technologies in Regional Areas. The City of Onkaparinga, Fleurieu Regional Development and Flinders University have pooled their resources to identify new technologies capability in the Southern Adelaide region. Strategic and collaborative initiatives with business associations will be evaluated for the development of new economic strategies for these technologies. This region is highly representative of similar regional areas w ....Strategic Business Principles for the Economic Development of New Technologies in Regional Areas. The City of Onkaparinga, Fleurieu Regional Development and Flinders University have pooled their resources to identify new technologies capability in the Southern Adelaide region. Strategic and collaborative initiatives with business associations will be evaluated for the development of new economic strategies for these technologies. This region is highly representative of similar regional areas within Australia, in which the identification of new technologies capability is not well characterised. With a reduction in conventional heavy industry in the region, it is believed that a better understanding of new technologies capability for application to the southern region will promote essential economic growth.Read moreRead less
The psychological contract: Bridging human resource management practices and organisational effectiveness. Many managers believe that recent changes in management practice are responsible for Australia's high labour productivity but very little is known about the mechanisms through which such effects are transmitted. Will HRM enable Australian organisations to generate and maintain a competitive advantage in the global context? In this project we draw on theoretical frameworks established in ....The psychological contract: Bridging human resource management practices and organisational effectiveness. Many managers believe that recent changes in management practice are responsible for Australia's high labour productivity but very little is known about the mechanisms through which such effects are transmitted. Will HRM enable Australian organisations to generate and maintain a competitive advantage in the global context? In this project we draw on theoretical frameworks established in the behavioural sciences to understand how HRM practices influence employee reactions and impact organisational effectiveness, such as labour productivity. The results will be of direct benefit to Australian organisations designing, evaluating, or reconfiguring their HRM practices in line with their competitive strategy.Read moreRead less
Employment systems and organisational outcomes: Managing employee expectations through HRM practice. This project contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence organisational effectiveness. Australian employers are facing competitive business conditions and changing demographics. In this challenging environment, employers and employees must develop a clear understanding of what they can expect from one another. Unfulfilled expectations can lead to workplace cynicism and have ....Employment systems and organisational outcomes: Managing employee expectations through HRM practice. This project contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence organisational effectiveness. Australian employers are facing competitive business conditions and changing demographics. In this challenging environment, employers and employees must develop a clear understanding of what they can expect from one another. Unfulfilled expectations can lead to workplace cynicism and have a negative effect on organisational performance. The project findings will help organisations become more competitive in the global marketplace by designing HRM practice configurations that are best fit to the needs of their employees and that establish converging expectations about the employment relationship.Read moreRead less
Managing Diversity: Diversity Practice Configurations and Organisational Effectiveness. Organisations expend a lot of momey on their diversity efforts but often fail to implement the most effective diversity management practices. Left unmanaged, workforce diversity can create internal conflict and lower organisational performance. These challenges are especially difficult for the small organisations characteristic of Australian business. This project is designed to identify the most effective ....Managing Diversity: Diversity Practice Configurations and Organisational Effectiveness. Organisations expend a lot of momey on their diversity efforts but often fail to implement the most effective diversity management practices. Left unmanaged, workforce diversity can create internal conflict and lower organisational performance. These challenges are especially difficult for the small organisations characteristic of Australian business. This project is designed to identify the most effective diversity management practices for small and large organisations and provide recommendations for their use. The project benefits employers and employees alike by identifying diversity management practices that maximise organisational effectiveness and create positive working environments in the Australian context.Read moreRead less
Working against type: Stereotype threat effects on mature age workers. Demographic challenges are creating a new urgency around the management and retention of mature age workers in Australia. The proportion of mature age workers in the population is increasing but labour participation rates are low in the older age categories. This project examines how the demographic composition of workplaces and the content of recruitment advertising evoke negative age stereotypes and lead to the disengagem ....Working against type: Stereotype threat effects on mature age workers. Demographic challenges are creating a new urgency around the management and retention of mature age workers in Australia. The proportion of mature age workers in the population is increasing but labour participation rates are low in the older age categories. This project examines how the demographic composition of workplaces and the content of recruitment advertising evoke negative age stereotypes and lead to the disengagement of mature age workers. The project benefits mature age workers and their employers by identifying organisational policies and practices that counteract these effects by signalling an organisation's commitment to creating an age-friendly environment. Read moreRead less