A cross-national comparison of novel market-pull technology transfer programs which facilitate research organisation commercialisation through dynamic SMEs. This research will contribute to a more competitive and innovative economy in two ways. First it will provide a basis for improved public policy to stimulate technology uptake by small business, which is critical for small business growth and innovation. Second, it will identify innovative policies to facilitate the uptake of university rese ....A cross-national comparison of novel market-pull technology transfer programs which facilitate research organisation commercialisation through dynamic SMEs. This research will contribute to a more competitive and innovative economy in two ways. First it will provide a basis for improved public policy to stimulate technology uptake by small business, which is critical for small business growth and innovation. Second, it will identify innovative policies to facilitate the uptake of university research, to enhance the contribution of universities to the economy. The proposed research is original because it focuses on the way in which the technology needs of small firms can be met by existing university knowledge and technologies. Prior research on technology transfer focuses on pushing university research out to industry through university spin-offs or university and large firm linkages.Read moreRead less
Promoting Knowledge Economy Organisations and Innovative Work: Regional influences on Knowledge-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise clusters in Australia and Germany. In both Australia and Germany many regional areas have experienced economic and social decline. Clusters offer a means of fostering local economic development thereby arresting regional social and economic deterioration. The research focuses on those clusters that rely on knowledge transfer between organisations. Through identi ....Promoting Knowledge Economy Organisations and Innovative Work: Regional influences on Knowledge-based Small and Medium-sized Enterprise clusters in Australia and Germany. In both Australia and Germany many regional areas have experienced economic and social decline. Clusters offer a means of fostering local economic development thereby arresting regional social and economic deterioration. The research focuses on those clusters that rely on knowledge transfer between organisations. Through identifying the drivers and impediments to the formation of knowledge based clusters, the research aims to provide practical guidance to regionally-based organizations to assist in the successful formation and maintenance of clusters. In doing so, the research will identify how clusters that rely on the sharing of organizational knowledge may promote greater regional employment possibilities.Read moreRead less
Building Better Brands: A Study of Australian Organizations and Consumers. The study is the first to be undertaken in the world to develop a knowledge management system of brand development and management. It focuses on understanding how branding strategies increase the competitiveness of Australian industry. The study also explores linkages of branding strategy to consumer perceptions of brand value. The model is firmly placed in a global market context, contrasting domestic, exported and im ....Building Better Brands: A Study of Australian Organizations and Consumers. The study is the first to be undertaken in the world to develop a knowledge management system of brand development and management. It focuses on understanding how branding strategies increase the competitiveness of Australian industry. The study also explores linkages of branding strategy to consumer perceptions of brand value. The model is firmly placed in a global market context, contrasting domestic, exported and imported brands. The focus is strongly orientated toward improving Australia's competitiveness and global performance. This study is vital as the economic superiority of strong nations is evident in the value and strength of their industries' brands.Read moreRead less
Innovation and dynamic networks in project-based firms. Innovation is central to Australia's future prosperity but many commentators have bemoaned national performance in 'obvious' indicators of innovation such as R&D spending and patents. We argue that a lot of innovation in Australia is actually hidden in the business of projects. To compete in the international economy it is vital to know how to manage innovation in this context. The proposed research will use new methods in network analysis ....Innovation and dynamic networks in project-based firms. Innovation is central to Australia's future prosperity but many commentators have bemoaned national performance in 'obvious' indicators of innovation such as R&D spending and patents. We argue that a lot of innovation in Australia is actually hidden in the business of projects. To compete in the international economy it is vital to know how to manage innovation in this context. The proposed research will use new methods in network analysis to show how firms can be better structured to encourage innovation.Read moreRead less
Organisational Readiness for Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation. An ERP implementation is a significant organisational intervention and its success is affected by many variables including the organisation's culture, decision-making strategies, risk taking orientation, leadership strategies and perceptions of the value of Information Technology. We seek to develop a organisational behaviour modification program in order to position the firm to succeed by overcoming barriers in these ele ....Organisational Readiness for Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation. An ERP implementation is a significant organisational intervention and its success is affected by many variables including the organisation's culture, decision-making strategies, risk taking orientation, leadership strategies and perceptions of the value of Information Technology. We seek to develop a organisational behaviour modification program in order to position the firm to succeed by overcoming barriers in these elements. We will (1) identify key variables that inhibit an ERP implementation; (2) develop strategies to orient the organisation to achieve business benefit from the ERP implementation; and (3) track the effectiveness of these strategies through a program of participative action research.Read moreRead less
Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE). New business creation is a major source of new jobs and an important component of our nation's innovation system. The project will permanently transform the understanding of business creation in Australia. In contribution to NRP 3, high-technology new ventures will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship (as CI 1 previously h ....Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE). New business creation is a major source of new jobs and an important component of our nation's innovation system. The project will permanently transform the understanding of business creation in Australia. In contribution to NRP 3, high-technology new ventures will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship (as CI 1 previously had a key role in doing in Sweden). Frontier knowledge in this area contributes to 'promoting an innovation culture and economy' and facilitates 'maximizing Australia's benefits from investments in research, particularly related to commercialisation of 'Breakthrough science' and 'Frontier technologies'.Read moreRead less
Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefit ....Firm Early Development and Performance (FEDP): A Panel Study. Research in several developed economies has shown that small, independent firms - and especially the new entries - contribute disproportionately to innovation, job creation and regional economic well-being. The project will substantially improve our understanding of successful development pathways across a range of contexts facing young Australian firms, and ultimately lead to improved business outcomes and economic and social benefits. In contribution to NRP 3.5, promoting an innovation culture and economy, high-technology firms will be over-sampled and given particular attention. The research is part of a strategy to create a world class research centre in entrepreneurship.Read moreRead less
What facilitates or hinders the discovery and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities? A systematic comparison of the independent and corporate contexts. Every opportunity that is discovered but not exploited represents significant unrealised value for the entrepreneur and society-at-large. By providing clear implications for managers and entrepreneurs as to which factors will facilitate and constrain the successful exploitation of discovered opportunities, this research will contribute to ....What facilitates or hinders the discovery and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities? A systematic comparison of the independent and corporate contexts. Every opportunity that is discovered but not exploited represents significant unrealised value for the entrepreneur and society-at-large. By providing clear implications for managers and entrepreneurs as to which factors will facilitate and constrain the successful exploitation of discovered opportunities, this research will contribute to increasing the discovery of technologies as well as their successful commercialisation. It will promote a more vibrant, innovative culture at companies and within Australian society. In particular our focus of the mining sector will benefit the Australian economy, as this sector is of major economic importance.Read moreRead less
Maximising diffusion of innovative products on public infrastructure projects: A qualitative management study of open innovation systems. Australia's infrastructure in water, energy, health, education, transport and communication is the platform for our future prosperity and growth. In response to an identified deficit, Australian governments are embarking on major investment programs. Our ability to deliver these programs efficiently and effectively relies heavily on the promotion of innovation ....Maximising diffusion of innovative products on public infrastructure projects: A qualitative management study of open innovation systems. Australia's infrastructure in water, energy, health, education, transport and communication is the platform for our future prosperity and growth. In response to an identified deficit, Australian governments are embarking on major investment programs. Our ability to deliver these programs efficiently and effectively relies heavily on the promotion of innovation in the delivery phase. This study contributes to this major challenge by identifying how diffusion of innovative products can be maximised on infrastructure projects, focusing on knowledge flows within open innovation systems. The study will provide tools to optimise delivery of a world-class and integrated infrastructure network to meet Australia's future social and economic needs.Read moreRead less
Organizational Innovation Adoption: The Effect of External, Technology Diffusion Agencies. Organizational innovation is imperative in maintaining international competitiveness, but less than one quarter of Australian manufacturing companies adopt innovations. While previous studies have identified a large number of organisational factors affecting adoption decisions, little research has examined the effect of external, technology diffusion agencies. Our proposed research uses advanced statistica ....Organizational Innovation Adoption: The Effect of External, Technology Diffusion Agencies. Organizational innovation is imperative in maintaining international competitiveness, but less than one quarter of Australian manufacturing companies adopt innovations. While previous studies have identified a large number of organisational factors affecting adoption decisions, little research has examined the effect of external, technology diffusion agencies. Our proposed research uses advanced statistical modelling and qualitative methods to study the interaction between organisational factors and external agencies in the adoption process. Our aim is to understand how external agencies and policy information is used in the adoption process in order to identify good practices for these agencies.Read moreRead less