Effects of offshored advanced manufacturing on productivity, and growth. Offshoring can reduce production costs, but it can also reduce cutting-edge advanced manufacturing capability and skilled manufacturing workforce, and reduce future growth. Lack of appropriate data has made it difficult to measure these effects for firms and industries. Using uniquely available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and newly developed methods, this project aims to provide new measures of firm level ....Effects of offshored advanced manufacturing on productivity, and growth. Offshoring can reduce production costs, but it can also reduce cutting-edge advanced manufacturing capability and skilled manufacturing workforce, and reduce future growth. Lack of appropriate data has made it difficult to measure these effects for firms and industries. Using uniquely available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and newly developed methods, this project aims to provide new measures of firm level offshoring activity and advanced manufacturing capability onshore and offshore. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the impact of offshored advanced manufacturing on productivity, growth, product innovation, and skilled labour. The findings should provide significant new industry and policy relevant insightsRead moreRead less
Robust Configuration of Evolutionary Algorithms. The purpose of this project is to develop an intelligent framework for the robust configuration of evolutionary algorithms. This research is driven by the fact that the current design of evolutionary algorithms is sub-optimal and ineffective for many problem domains. In the proposed framework, a configuration is evolved while the algorithm is running for problem solving to ensure robust design. Its scientific outcomes are expected to include a nov ....Robust Configuration of Evolutionary Algorithms. The purpose of this project is to develop an intelligent framework for the robust configuration of evolutionary algorithms. This research is driven by the fact that the current design of evolutionary algorithms is sub-optimal and ineffective for many problem domains. In the proposed framework, a configuration is evolved while the algorithm is running for problem solving to ensure robust design. Its scientific outcomes are expected to include a novel framework for the automated design of algorithms and new techniques for exploiting assumptions in algorithmic design that may have been overlooked. Expected practical outcomes include the provision of a robust problem-solving tool, strong research training and high-impact publications.Read moreRead less
Robust evolutionary analytics for changing and uncertain environments. This project aims to develop a novel framework for solving planning problems in dynamic environments with uncertainties. Current methods treat these conditions as two discrete problems. In the proposed framework, three algorithms will be developed and integrated to generate robust solutions for planning under dynamic changes with uncertainties. The intended outcomes include a novel framework with new techniques, developed by ....Robust evolutionary analytics for changing and uncertain environments. This project aims to develop a novel framework for solving planning problems in dynamic environments with uncertainties. Current methods treat these conditions as two discrete problems. In the proposed framework, three algorithms will be developed and integrated to generate robust solutions for planning under dynamic changes with uncertainties. The intended outcomes include a novel framework with new techniques, developed by exploiting the assumptions of existing methodologies. Practical outcomes will include a robust planning tool.Read moreRead less
Natural resources and ecosystem services in productivity measurement. This project aims to understand sources of productivity growth through addressing theoretical and practical problems in the economics of natural resources and ecosystem services. It will study the valuation of non-renewable resources and ecosystem services, acknowledging their contributions to economic activity and the effect on national income from their depletion and degradation. It will develop approaches to incorporating n ....Natural resources and ecosystem services in productivity measurement. This project aims to understand sources of productivity growth through addressing theoretical and practical problems in the economics of natural resources and ecosystem services. It will study the valuation of non-renewable resources and ecosystem services, acknowledging their contributions to economic activity and the effect on national income from their depletion and degradation. It will develop approaches to incorporating natural resource depletion and degradation into productivity analysis with the aim of better informing environmental, innovation and industry policy.Read moreRead less
Evolutionary Framework for High Dimensional Problems. The project aims to develop a novel framework for solving high dimensional decision problems with and without changes. This research is driven by the fact, that there is a huge gap between current research and the methodology needed to solve practical decision problems. In the proposed framework, a number of algorithms will be developed and integrated to generate robust solutions for those problems. The intended scientific outcomes include a ....Evolutionary Framework for High Dimensional Problems. The project aims to develop a novel framework for solving high dimensional decision problems with and without changes. This research is driven by the fact, that there is a huge gap between current research and the methodology needed to solve practical decision problems. In the proposed framework, a number of algorithms will be developed and integrated to generate robust solutions for those problems. The intended scientific outcomes include a novel framework with new techniques, developed by exploiting the impractical assumptions of existing methodologies. Practical outcomes include a robust decision-making tool and strong research training. The developed tool will provide significant cost savings through better decision making in practice.Read moreRead less
Reactive planning under disruptions and dynamic changes. This project aims to develop an algorithmic framework for reactive planning under unknown disturbances and dynamic changes. There is a huge gap between current research and the methodology needed to solve practical planning problems. The project will develop and integrate algorithms to ensure robust solutions for planning and re-planning under disruptions and dynamic changes. This project expects to develop an effective approach for solvin ....Reactive planning under disruptions and dynamic changes. This project aims to develop an algorithmic framework for reactive planning under unknown disturbances and dynamic changes. There is a huge gap between current research and the methodology needed to solve practical planning problems. The project will develop and integrate algorithms to ensure robust solutions for planning and re-planning under disruptions and dynamic changes. This project expects to develop an effective approach for solving complex decision problems, expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability, and make it a leader in saving costs through better decision making.Read moreRead less
Task Contingent Units of Personality and Adaptive Performance. The project aims to test a model of adaptive personality, to cross-validate the model in Italy, China and the United kingdom, and to develop and test a model for the modification and development of adaptive personality factors that enhance adaptive performance. Adaptive tasks differ from routine tasks in degrees of novelty, difficulty and uncertainty which require higher levels and different types of cognitive processing. Individuals ....Task Contingent Units of Personality and Adaptive Performance. The project aims to test a model of adaptive personality, to cross-validate the model in Italy, China and the United kingdom, and to develop and test a model for the modification and development of adaptive personality factors that enhance adaptive performance. Adaptive tasks differ from routine tasks in degrees of novelty, difficulty and uncertainty which require higher levels and different types of cognitive processing. Individuals who adapt their focus, emotions and exploratory activities in response to the changing cognitive demands of tasks are expected to outperform those with less adaptive personalities. Those with more adaptive personalities are expected to perform better on problem solving, learning, innovation and development activities.Read moreRead less
Small firms' finances: effects on employment, wages and growth. The project aims to estimate how difficulties in accessing financial and credit markets affect small and medium enterprise (SME) decisions about employment, wages, entry and exit. Although the SME sector is Australia’s largest employer, the extent to which financial constraints affect these firms' market performance and their ability to create and sustain employment is unknown. The project plans to use an econometric analysis of fir ....Small firms' finances: effects on employment, wages and growth. The project aims to estimate how difficulties in accessing financial and credit markets affect small and medium enterprise (SME) decisions about employment, wages, entry and exit. Although the SME sector is Australia’s largest employer, the extent to which financial constraints affect these firms' market performance and their ability to create and sustain employment is unknown. The project plans to use an econometric analysis of firm level panel data to fill this gap. The intended outcome is micro-econometric findings tailored to improve targeted labour and financial policy. The expected benefit is to provide input to policy responses that support employment, productivity and wages in volatile market conditions.Read moreRead less
Productivity Measurement, Drivers and Trends: A New Analytical Framework. Significant problems exist in the measurement of productivity and hence its understanding, impeding informed policy formulation. This project aims to advance new concepts and methods for productivity measurement that have the potential to improve policy and national welfare, with special attention to: productivity in the mining industry, which has been a particular problem for Australia; the increased holding of precaution ....Productivity Measurement, Drivers and Trends: A New Analytical Framework. Significant problems exist in the measurement of productivity and hence its understanding, impeding informed policy formulation. This project aims to advance new concepts and methods for productivity measurement that have the potential to improve policy and national welfare, with special attention to: productivity in the mining industry, which has been a particular problem for Australia; the increased holding of precautionary cash balances by firms during financial crises, representing underutilised resources; examination of firm productivity dynamics, without assuming the possibility of disappearing technology capability that is used in standard models; and a more realistic approach to capitalisation of research and development and other intangible investments.Read moreRead less
The impact of work-from-home environments on comfort and productivity. This project aims to quantify the effect of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in work-from-home (WFH) settings on worker comfort, productivity and household energy use, by employing a longitudinal field monitoring approach. This project expects to generate new knowledge that will inform current indoor environment standards and regulations to make them more relevant to our “new WFH normal”. Quantifying the impact of decentral ....The impact of work-from-home environments on comfort and productivity. This project aims to quantify the effect of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in work-from-home (WFH) settings on worker comfort, productivity and household energy use, by employing a longitudinal field monitoring approach. This project expects to generate new knowledge that will inform current indoor environment standards and regulations to make them more relevant to our “new WFH normal”. Quantifying the impact of decentralised workforces on shifting energy usage between sectors can also help in the formulation of relevant energy efficiency policies and building codes. The project will provide significant benefits such as enhancing the quality of work-life of workers and enabling better management of residential energy use.Read moreRead less