Digital Commons Network^™

The Efficacy Of Utilising Nvivo For Interview Data From The Electronic Gaming Industry In Two Jurisdictions, June Buchanan, Michael L. Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Quantitative methodologies have long utilised computer assisted software for data analysis. In more recent times, increasingly sophisticated computer assisted software has been developed to aid in the analysis of qualitative data. This paper discusses the use of one such computer assisted software analysis package – NVivo – in the analysis of interview data obtained from respondents in the Electronic Gaming Machine Industry across two jurisdictions, namely New South Wales, Australia and Nevada, USA . The efficacy of utilising qualitative methods for generating empirical data in social and societal marketing is acknowledged, particularly when very little, if any, primary data exists …

The Influence Of Jeremy Bentham On Recent Public Sector Financial Reforms, Graham Bowrey, Ciorstan J. Smark

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Jeremy Bentham’s (1748 – 1832) work while vast is generally considered to be based primarily on economics, law, social control, public administration and public interest. His most notable contributions are in the areas of utilitarianism, a moral theory where the correct action is one which produces the greatest amount of happiness or least amount of pain for the greatest number of people, and the use of a system of constant surveillance, panopticon, to internalise the desired behaviour of individuals. Bentham also made significant contributions to public sector financial accountability through his work on the principle of publicity where he outlined …

Resource Price Turbulence And Macroeconomic Adjustment For A Resource Exporter: A Conceptual Framework For Policy Analysis, Grant M. Cox, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Increased global demand for energy and other resources, particularly from the rapidly developing economies of China and India and the opening up of global resource markets to global investors and speculative activity, has resulted in considerable recent turbulence in resource prices. The recent magnitude of change in resource prices, both positive and negative, and their macroeconomic implications is of considerable contemporary importance to both resource importing and exporting economies. For a resource exporting economy, such as that of Australia, the recent resource price boom has resulted in: increased government taxation revenue, increased employment and wages in the resource and resource …

The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being And Ethical Orientations In Decision Making: An Empirical Study With Business Executives In Australia, Mario Fernando, Rafi Chowdhury

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The relationship between spiritual well-being and ethical orientations in decision making is examined through a survey of executives in organizations listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The four domains of spiritual well-being, personal, communal, environmental and transcendental (Fisher, Spiritual health: its nature and place in the school curriculum, PhD thesis, University of Melbourne, 1998; Gomez and Fisher, Pers Individ Differ 35:1975–1991, 2003) are examined in relation to idealism and relativism (Forsyth, J Pers Soc Psychol 39(1):175–184, 1980). Results reveal that spiritual well-being, in particular the communal domain of spiritual well-being, is correlated with and predictive of idealism. However, the relationship …

The Effect Of Information On Public Acceptance - The Case Of Water From Alternative Sources, Sara Dolnicar, A. Hurlimann, Long Nghiem

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study aims to provide conclusive evidence that information about water from alternative sources increases public acceptance. We conducted an experiment with 1000 Australian respondents asking them about their acceptance of recycled and desalinated water for a range of purposes under two conditions: 1) no information provided and 2) information about the production process provided. Results indicate that – both for desalinated and recycled water – the stated likelihood of use increases significantly if people are provided with information about the production process. This has major implications for public policy makers indicating that providing factual information (as opposed to persuasive …

Inter-Firm Collaboration In Australian Telecom Market, Aimee Zhang, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The Australian telecommunications market is a typical mature market in a developed country. This paper gives an overview of the Australian telecommunication market’s development, industry structure, major components and contributions, major firms, key government agencies and organizations in this market. The history and development process of the Australian telecommunications market is, like most telecom markets in the world, one from monopoly to limited competition, from state ownership to market driven and from closed to open. To study inter-firm collaboration types, benefits, and barriers, a qualitative interview was conducted to collect real industry data from different sectors. Face-to-face interviews were adopted …

Working At The Coalface: Being A Miner In Times Of Change, Peter D. Mclean, Patrick M. Dawson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A case study analysis of the introduction of a new system for appraising worker performance in an Australian coal mine is used to explore the related concepts of identity and culture that are central to explaining individual and group behaviour in organizational context (Irrmann, 2002: 164). The change initiative was initiated by management following a search and evaluation of the general business environment to see what other organizations were doing to improve their operations. There was no prior consultation with employees, nor were any attempts made to involve mine workers before implementing what management described as a more ‘scientific’ and …

The Influence Of Board Size On Intellectual Capital Disclosure By Kenyan Listed Firms, Indra Abeysekera

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of board size on firms disclosing more, rather than less, strategic and tactical intellectual capital resources using the top 26 of the 52 firms ranked by the Nairobi Stock Exchange for market capitalization in 2002 and in 2003. This study identifies intellectual capital disclosure by three separate categories: internal capital, external capital, and human capital. Hence, this study examines the influence of board size on six disclosure outcomes. Design/methodology/approach – The study develops hypotheses using the resource dependency theory. Using content analysis for data generation, this study classifies …

Customer Relationship Management And Firm Performance, Tim Coltman, Timothy M. Devinney, David F. Midgley

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In this paper, we examine the impact of customer relationship management (CRM) on firm performance using a hierarchical construct model. Following the resource-based view of the firm, strategic CRM is conceptualized as an endogenously determined function of the organization’s ability to harness and orchestrate lower order capabilities that comprise physical assets, such as IT infrastructure, and organizational capabilities, such as human analytics and business architecture. Our results reveal a positive and significant path between a superior CRM capability and firm performance. In turn, superior CRM capability is positively associated with human analytics and business architecture. However, our results suggest the …

What Drives The Choice Of A Third Party Logistics Provider?, Edward Anderson, Tim Coltman, Timothy Devinney, Byron Keating

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

It is generally believed that companies choose supply chain partners on the basis of their distinctive value propositions – a fact one would also expect holds true when companies choose a logistics service provider. However, faced with the complexities of varied customer demands, it can be difficult for logistics service companies to obtain an effective understanding of how customers differentially value the service components they offer. In this paper, we address this by identifying the factors that are important in a customer’s choice of a logistics service provider. Using stated choice methods we explore the relative importance of seven service …

Enhancing Industry Association Theory: A Comparative Business History Contribution, James Reveley, Simon Ville

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Our comparative business historical examination of industry associations aims to enrich the under-theorized study of this distinctive type of meta-organization. We compare two New Zealand industry associations operating in the same supply chain but with differing degrees of associative capacity and types of external architecture. Our analysis of these associations builds on two strands of theory that rarely communicate with each other: New Institutional Economics (NIE) and Organizational–Institutional Theory (OIT). We demonstrate how NIE describes the structural potentialities for associational strength, while OIT addresses the relational context within associations. In turn, NIE’s examination of external influences reinforces OIT suggestions that …

The Mechanics Of Ecollaboration And Why It Works- An Empirical Assessment Of Australian Smes, Lois Burgess, Michael L. Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper investigates factors conducive to the development of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) innovation in the context of the adoption and use of electronic collaboration technologies (eCollaboration), to enhance business growth, competitiveness and future economic viability. A change from competition to collaboration is an imperative for many firms today. The current economic climate is one reason why firms should work together, but more driving than this are the ubiquitous effects of globalisation. Australian firms are facing fierce competition from many overseas nations which have the advantage of cost effective labour. Businesses must transcend from attitudes of competing to attitudes …

The Caqda Paradox: A Divergence Between Research Method And Analytical Tool, Michael Jones, Kieren Diment

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A wide range of software tools are available to assist researchers with the process of qualitative data analysis. These include tools that emphasise manual handling of data, (e.g. NVivo, Atlas.ti) and tools that provide some automated analysis based on statistical properties of texts (e.g. Leximancer). These tools are enhancing research, making research activities less complex and tedious, and rendering the process more transparent and portable (Dohan et al. 1998; Welsh 2002; Andrew et al. 2007; Jones 2007). The use of these tools in published works over the last five to ten years has become increasingly more evident. However, in many …

A Subjective Evaluation Of Attitudes Towards E-Health, S. Banna, Helen Hasan, J. Meloche

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

E-health, the provision of healthcare services via the Internet, has the potential to address the limited capacity of the healthcare system and thereby improve health outcomes. While there is considerable development of e-health services in practice, research in this important area often lags practice and takes a restricted view of user needs. The study presented in this paper undertakes a holistic evaluation of perceptions of e-health services and tools by addressing the activities of diverse stakeholders from healthcare practitioners to the general public. The research uses Q-methodology to explore the opportunities, challenges, barriers, and potential benefits of e-health to guide …

The Unit Of Analysis In Is Theory: The Case For Activity, Helen Hasan, Sumayya Banna

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In the field of IS, researchers use and adapt existing theories to make sense of their data. They also build new theory from their research findings. The way theory is used, adapted or created usually assumes a certain unit of analysis, which could be the artefact, the system, the organisation, the user, the developer, the team or something else. In this paper we propose that ‘activity’ should also be considered as a suitable unit of analysis for theory in IS since the purpose of any information systems is to facilitate activities of use. To support this proposition, we describe tenets …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Retention Of Dissatisfied Business Services Customers Using Structural Equation Modelling, Venkata K. Yanamandram, Lesley White

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study extends the body of literature concerning service switching, complaint handling, dependence and commitment by investigating why dissatisfied B2B customers do not switch service providers. Specifically, it develops and tests a social exchange-based model examining how dissatisfied, but behaviourally loyal, customers act in terms of their repurchase intentions. A conceptual model, specifying a set of hypothesised relationships between dimensions of switching costs, interpersonal relationships, dimensions of complaint handling, satisfaction with complaint handling, attractiveness of alternatives, dependence, calculative commitment and repurchase intentions, was examined using AMOS 17.0 on a sample of 376 business directors/managers from responding organisations. The results show …

Environmental Refugees: An Accountability Perspective, Stephanie Perkiss, Graham D. Bowrey, Nicholas J. Gill

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the increasing concern of the impact climate change on vulnerable nations, the creation of environmental refugees and the notion of government accountability towards addressing issues associated with supporting environmental refugees. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on the Second Reading, in the Australian Federal Parliament, of the proposed Migration (Climate Refugees) Amendment Bill 2007 and the associated replies by the various political actors within the senate. The main method used to review this material is discourse analysis. Findings: The key finding from this initial review is that while all actors within the …

Migrant Remittances, Financial Sector Development And The Government Ownership Of Banks, Arusha V. Cooray

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study investigates the influence of migrant remittances on twodimensions of the financial sector, namely, size and efficiency. Evidence suggests thatmigrant remittances contribute to increasing the size and efficiency of the financialsector. The study, in addition, examines the impact of remittances on financial sectorsize and efficiency through the government ownership of banks channel. While theresults suggest that remittances lead to larger increases in financial sector size incountries in which the government ownership of banks is lower and increases inefficiency in countries in which the government ownership of banks is higher, thegovernment is found to play an important role in promoting …

The Portrayal Of Aboriginal Spiritual Identity In Tourism Advertising: Creating An Image Of Extraordinary Reality Or Mere Confusion?, Alan A. Pomering

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper considers how Aboriginal identity and spirituality are appropriated to construct national identity for an Australian tourism advertising campaign, and proposes a research agenda to investigate whether incongruity, based on consumers’ prior knowledge of Indigenous Australians’ real everyday identity, might reduce advertising effectiveness.

Strategic Ambiguity And Ethical Actions, Ah Ba Sim, Mario Fernando

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Ethics and moral obligations of management are an integral component in corporate strategy and support is now increasing for the proposition that ethics should be central, not peripheral, to the overall management of the firm. Within this context, we examine the influence of strategic ambiguity on the ethical actions of corporations. Strategic ambiguity is a prevalent and valuable tactic in organizational strategy making. However, the influence of strategic ambiguity on organizational strategy making and communication may lead to unethical executive behaviour and action. This paper develops a framework to examine the role of strategic ambiguity in ethical action, using James …

Was The Copenhagen Summit Doomed From The Start? Some Insights From Green Is Research, Helen M. Hasan, C Dwyer

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

At the 2009 Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, COP15, so many contradictory demands were apparent that it is doubtful whether it produced many useful outcomes. In this paper we question whether it, and summits like it, may be inherently doomed to fall short of expectations. With its experience of the intrinsic contradictions within socio-technical systems, the Information System’s profession may provide some insights into complex issues such as climate change. IS research has often demonstrated that imposed top-down solutions rarely provide the most promising way to approach highly complex problems. On the other hand, bottom-up emergent processes, though less politically …

The Multifaceted Leadership Of R. J. Chambers: A Personal Reflection, Michael J. Gaffikin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

I was working in a fairly insignificant accounting department of a (then) small university when I was charged with the responsibility of accompanying Ray Chambers and his wife Margaret to dinner.
He had accepted an invitation to the University from its Accounting Student Society and for us it was an important occasion to have such a distinguished visitor. During our conversation that evening Ray suggested I come to Sydney University as he thought I would find it (intellectually) stimulating. I took upu his suggestion and did not live to regret it. Working with Chambers was indeed an intellectually stimulating expewrience …

Influence Of Consumers' Online Decision-Making Style On Comparison Shopping Proneness And Perceived Usefulness Of Comparison Shopping Tools, Young Park, Ulrike Gretzel

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Applications to support online comparison shopping are expected to become increasingly available to consumers. However, not all consumers equally engage in online comparison shopping and, thus, would not necessarily benefit from such tools. The study proposes that the perceived usefulness of comparison shopping tools depends on consumers‟ comparison shopping proneness, which in turn is influenced by consumers‟ online decision-making styles. An online survey using a consumer research panel was conducted to test the hypotheses in the context of travel comparison shopping tools. The results suggest that some consumer decision-making style dimensions influence comparison shopping proneness while others have no influence. …

Exploring Older Worker Labour Force Participation Across Oecd Countries In The Context Of Ageing Populations: A Reserve Army Of Labour?, Martin J. O'Brien

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The governments of many developed economies are facing policy issues associated with ageing populations. Pension reforms, increasing labour force participation of older workers and increasing the standard retirement age are policy reforms suggested by the OECD to address ageing populations. However, many of the same governments now embracing these reforms had until recently encouraged early exit of older workers from the labour force in periods of excess labour supply, leading to allegations that these governments had treated older workers as a ―reserve army of labour‖. In this paper a panel model is estimated for the labour force participation of males …

Pathway For Student Self-Development: A Learning Orientated Internship Approach, Bonnie Amelia Dean, Michael D. Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Higher education is facing new challenges in preparing students for the workforce. As demands increase for students to differentiate themselves when seeking employment, it becomes necessary for higher education and vocational providers not only to understand these challenges, but also to provide a pathway for students to develop the skills necessary to become sought-after employees. This paper presents a learning orientated internship approach as one such pathway that aims to provide students, as adult learners, with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and gain new skills in a work context. The paper provides insight into students self-reported learning outcomes after …

Blending Complexity And Activity Frameworks For A Broader And Deeper Understanding Of Is, Helen M. Hasan, A Kazluaskas, Kathryn P. Crawford

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A new age of significance and opportunity for Information Systems (IS) is upon us driven by current developments in the use of digital artifacts. In this paper we endeavor to make sense of contemporary IS, as well as possible future directions of IS, by bringing together the notions of complexity and activity within two theoretical frameworks, namely the Cynefin framework and contemporary uses of Activity Theory. We describe activity as a holistic unit of analysis within the Complicated and Complex Domains of the Cynefin framework. This will enable us to make sense of tool-mediated IS activities in those Domains. Our …

An Examination Of Csr Assurance Reports Of Equator Principles Signatories, Chi Fun Freda Hui, Graham D. Bowrey

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: To undertake a review of the assurance reports, prepared by audit firms and non-audit firms, on the CSR performance and management reporting disclosures of a specific sample of Equator Principles signatory banks.

Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on an initial examination of assurance reports of CSR reporting disclosures of a group of banks who are signatories of the Equator Principles. Rudimentary content analysis has been used to identify the differences in the structure of the titles, number of words and focus of these CSR reporting disclosures assurance reports.

Findings: The key finding from this initial review …

Destination Choice By Young Australian Travellers: A Theoretical Explanation To A Practitioner Problem, Clifford Lewis, Gregory Kerr, Alan Pomering

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Domestic tourism in Australia is in decline. This is particularly the case with young Australian travellers (YATs) who seem to prefer to travel overseas rather than consume domestic tourism experiences. This paper first provides an overview of theories of destination choice which concludes that such models may be inadequate in understanding destination choice on the part of YATs. A conceptual model of destination choice which examines the potential importance of and relationships between ritual, ritual inversion, and fashion is presented, following which an agenda for research is proposed.

The Performance Wheel And The Small Business Pyramid: The Next Generation Of Performance Scorecards, Carol J. Mcnair, Edmund W. Watts

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A common shortcoming with respect to performance scorecards within today's businessenvironment is the misconception that one size fits all. This paper considers the historicaldevelopment, as well as the increasing variety and poorly integrated status of one of business management's most important tools - the performance scorecard.This paper traces the development of performance management systems from itshistorical inception to the present examining ways that some approaches do not addressthe specific decision making needs of many enterprises. Performance scorecards aregenerally developed with a specific type of enterprise in mind, but few have integratedthe different emphases of the different approaches.With the focus on …

Cross Country Co-Movements Of Gdp Growth Rates: Are They Systematic?, Abbas Valadkhani, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Using factor analysis this paper examines discernable patterns of real GDP growth comovementsacross 97 countries, using consistent time series data for the period 1961-2008.Of these countries only 21 are found to form three statistically significant groupings, wheremembership count exceeds more than two. Ten major OECD European countries plus Japanand Hong Kong form the first well-defined common bloc of countries (G12). The second bloc,consisting of six major Asian countries (G6), have GDP growth rates that exhibit a very highdegree of correlation, based on their robust factor loadings. The last group of countiescollectively witnessed a very substantial degree of cross-country growth co-movementsconstituted …