Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment ....Beyond our Control? The Impact of Multinational Corporations on Industrial Relations in Australia. There are two key national benefits associated with this project, related to building and transforming Australian industries and promoting an innovative culture and economy. It will build a better understanding of an issue which has significant consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of employees. By focusing on the role of MNCs in shaping future employment relations in Australia, the project will provide insights into the economic and social consequences of globalisation. By examining MNCs from the US, Germany and Japan, the project highlights the role of Australia's key trading partners and their influence on Australian industry and employment relations. Read moreRead less
The End of Conflict? Industrial Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Australia since the Breakdown of the Arbitral Model. Scholarly interest in industrial conflict has receded with the decline in strike levels. However, new forms of conflict (eg lockouts, union de-recognition disputes, internationalised disputes) and dispute resolution (eg private mediation) have emerged since the introduction of enterprise bargaining and the end of the classical 'arbitral model'. The highly structured, predicta ....The End of Conflict? Industrial Conflict and Dispute Resolution in Australia since the Breakdown of the Arbitral Model. Scholarly interest in industrial conflict has receded with the decline in strike levels. However, new forms of conflict (eg lockouts, union de-recognition disputes, internationalised disputes) and dispute resolution (eg private mediation) have emerged since the introduction of enterprise bargaining and the end of the classical 'arbitral model'. The highly structured, predictable twentieth century Australian model of conflict and dispute resolution is in flux and transition. The aim of this project is to map and explain the changing patterns of conflict and dispute resolution, in particular examining the impact of changes to the policy and institutional framework.Read moreRead less
Managing Productive and Collaborative Relations in Australian Workplaces. Concerns over workplace productivity are high on the agenda of policymakers. Evidence suggests that collaboration in the workplace and high involvement approaches have a productivity premium of up to 20 per cent over those without the commitment to collaborative approaches. However, collective relations do not necessarily mean union relations nor necessarily collaborative relations. This research will benefit Australia's s ....Managing Productive and Collaborative Relations in Australian Workplaces. Concerns over workplace productivity are high on the agenda of policymakers. Evidence suggests that collaboration in the workplace and high involvement approaches have a productivity premium of up to 20 per cent over those without the commitment to collaborative approaches. However, collective relations do not necessarily mean union relations nor necessarily collaborative relations. This research will benefit Australia's social and economic fabric through understanding alternative means by which collaborative workplace relations lead to productivity gains. This is consistent with the current policy approach of government in promoting productive and harmonious workplace level industrial relations.Read moreRead less
Managing Call Centres: A Study of Management Practices, Work and Outcomes. The study offers three types of benefits. First, improvements in management practice. By highlighting variations in management practice and its effects, training materials will be developed to improve call centre management capability. Second, we aim to fill a gap that currently exists in developing employee skills in managing emotions at work. This will reduce job burnout and labour turnover and help to maintain the indu ....Managing Call Centres: A Study of Management Practices, Work and Outcomes. The study offers three types of benefits. First, improvements in management practice. By highlighting variations in management practice and its effects, training materials will be developed to improve call centre management capability. Second, we aim to fill a gap that currently exists in developing employee skills in managing emotions at work. This will reduce job burnout and labour turnover and help to maintain the industry's international competitiveness which is threatened by offshore competition. Third, government policy making will be better informed by highlighting the impact of current institutional arrangements on employment relations and performance.Read moreRead less
The Employment Relations Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Australian Black Coal Mining Industry. This project will study the employment relations (industrial relations and human resource management) implications of mergers and acquisitions in the Australian black coal mining industry - Australia's largest export income-earning industry. Global merger and acquisition activity has intensified in recent years despite strong international evidence to suggest that mergers and acquisiti ....The Employment Relations Implications of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Australian Black Coal Mining Industry. This project will study the employment relations (industrial relations and human resource management) implications of mergers and acquisitions in the Australian black coal mining industry - Australia's largest export income-earning industry. Global merger and acquisition activity has intensified in recent years despite strong international evidence to suggest that mergers and acquisitions often fail due to people-related problems. This study seeks to explore this international enigma, by examining a range of employment relations issues in newly merged or acquired organisations in the Australian coal industry. The frenetic pace of recent mergers and acquisitions in the coal industry, and its centrality to the prosperity of Australia, make it an ideal site to develop understanding of the people-related problems associated with mergers and acquisitions,and to develop strategies to address these difficulties. It is expected that this study will reveal significant theoretical insights and provide practical lessons on appropriate management interventions, that go beyond the Australian coal industry.The findings will be presented at international conferences and be published in leading academic journals and the mainstream financial press.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of Globalisation On Employment Relations: A Comparison Of The Auto And Banking Industries In Australia And Korea. The project compares the impact of globalisation on employment relations in Australia and South Korea by analysing changes in the auto and banking industries since the mid 1990s. It is expected that the interactions between economic factors, institutional arrangements and strategic decision making will have led to both continuity and change in employment relations during t ....The Impact Of Globalisation On Employment Relations: A Comparison Of The Auto And Banking Industries In Australia And Korea. The project compares the impact of globalisation on employment relations in Australia and South Korea by analysing changes in the auto and banking industries since the mid 1990s. It is expected that the interactions between economic factors, institutional arrangements and strategic decision making will have led to both continuity and change in employment relations during this period. The study will introduce a new theoretical dimension to comparative industrial relations by testing an ?interaction? approach. It will also provide a deeper understanding of the reasons for similarities and differences between employment relations in Australia and South Korea and indicate likely future developments.Read moreRead less
Place, Scale and Employment Relations in Australia: Enterprise Agreements and Individual Contracts in the Coal and Finance Industries. This study will explore the spatial (geographical) content of workplace agreements. It will probe underlying processes of how unions and management in the coal and finance industries use inherent geographical dimensions to influence and shape industrial relations. Overcoming the spatial-blindness that has pervaded industrial relations research to enhance underst ....Place, Scale and Employment Relations in Australia: Enterprise Agreements and Individual Contracts in the Coal and Finance Industries. This study will explore the spatial (geographical) content of workplace agreements. It will probe underlying processes of how unions and management in the coal and finance industries use inherent geographical dimensions to influence and shape industrial relations. Overcoming the spatial-blindness that has pervaded industrial relations research to enhance understanding of new employment mechanisms and their implications for the future is imperative. Significant conceptual advance will be achieved by integrating core concepts from labour geography with notions of industrial relations decentralisation and practices that preference individualism over collectivism.Read moreRead less
Globalisation, Varieties of Capitalism and Employment Relations: A Study of the Automobile Assembly and Retail Banking Industries in Seven Countries. There are three national benefits associated with this project which examines the impact of globalisation on ER in two industries, across seven countries. Provides better understanding of an issue which has consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of its employees. Enhances our understanding of issues centra ....Globalisation, Varieties of Capitalism and Employment Relations: A Study of the Automobile Assembly and Retail Banking Industries in Seven Countries. There are three national benefits associated with this project which examines the impact of globalisation on ER in two industries, across seven countries. Provides better understanding of an issue which has consequences for the competitiveness of Australian enterprises and the well-being of its employees. Enhances our understanding of issues central to economic performance of many of our major trading partners. gives insight into the social and political consequences of globalisation which impact both the stability of our region and international agreements between countries.Read moreRead less
CEO Remuneration, Organisational Performance and Corporate Governance in Australian Listed Companies, 1998-2007: A Composite and Case-Study Analysis. The project will make a major contribution to the theory and practice of executive-level human resource management in Australia and, hence, to the performance of Australian firms and the national economy. It will enhance practitioner understanding of the factors underlying the responsiveness of CEO remuneration to firm performance. It will strength ....CEO Remuneration, Organisational Performance and Corporate Governance in Australian Listed Companies, 1998-2007: A Composite and Case-Study Analysis. The project will make a major contribution to the theory and practice of executive-level human resource management in Australia and, hence, to the performance of Australian firms and the national economy. It will enhance practitioner understanding of the factors underlying the responsiveness of CEO remuneration to firm performance. It will strengthen awareness of the potential and limitations of CEO remuneration as a determinant of corporate performance. It will enrich understanding of context-specific 'best practice' methods of CEO remuneration design, administration and monitoring and will thus facilitate a more effective diffusion of such methods in Australian firms.Read moreRead less
Equal Employment Opportunity in Australia and Britain: Policy Approaches and Progress. Equal employment opportunity policies were introduced in Australia and Britain from the 1980s in response to women's disadvantaged workforce position. These policies aimed to eliminate barriers to women's equal participation. Similar approaches were taken in both countries, but Australia's was underpinned by legislation, while Britain's was employer led and voluntary. No independent examination of these progr ....Equal Employment Opportunity in Australia and Britain: Policy Approaches and Progress. Equal employment opportunity policies were introduced in Australia and Britain from the 1980s in response to women's disadvantaged workforce position. These policies aimed to eliminate barriers to women's equal participation. Similar approaches were taken in both countries, but Australia's was underpinned by legislation, while Britain's was employer led and voluntary. No independent examination of these programs has yet been undertaken. This project examines the rationale and model for EEO in both countries, compares outcomes achieved and the role of legislation in explaining differences in EEO outcomes. It will contribute to national policy analysis and produce refereed publications.Read moreRead less