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University of Wollongong

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The Use Of Team-Based Learning As An Approach To Increased Engagement And Learning For Marketing Students: A Case Study, Paul Chad Jan 2012

The Use Of Team-Based Learning As An Approach To Increased Engagement And Learning For Marketing Students: A Case Study, Paul Chad

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Marketing educators are often faced with poor preclass preparation by students, declining student interest in attending classes as the semester progresses, and student complaints regarding previous bad experiences with team assessment activities. Teambased learning (TBL) is an innovative teaching strategy using semiformalized guidelines aimed to enhance student engagement and improve teamwork and, hence, overcome the typical problems faced by educators. This case study examines the firsttime use of TBL in a postgraduate marketing subject at an Australian university. The results indicate that the TBL innovation has a positive influence on student engagement and offers opportunities to assist learning. The study …


A Comparative Case Study Of The Internationalization Strategies Of Malaysian, Singaporean And Taiwanese Firms, Ah Ba Sim Jan 2012

A Comparative Case Study Of The Internationalization Strategies Of Malaysian, Singaporean And Taiwanese Firms, Ah Ba Sim

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Comparative empirical research on the internationalization strategies of Asian multinational enterprises (MNEs) from countries at different levels of development is lacking. This paper examines and analyzes the internationalization characteristics and strategies of MNEs from three Asian countries at two different levels of development. Primary data from matched sample firms from Malaysia (a fast developing economy) and Singapore and Taiwan (representing newly industrialized economies) in the textile and electronics industries are used for this study. The findings indicate some differences among the Malaysian, Singaporean and Taiwanese MNEs. These differences and their implications are examined. The empirical findings, particularly the contextual aspects …


Public Sector Commercial Orientation And The Social Contract: A Study Of Performance Management In A Non-Competitive Environment, Ali Rkein, Brian H. Andrew Jan 2012

Public Sector Commercial Orientation And The Social Contract: A Study Of Performance Management In A Non-Competitive Environment, Ali Rkein, Brian H. Andrew

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to study the workings of commercial orientation, with a focus on performance management, in an environment that is characterised by limited competition between the public and the private sectors and a high level of government social responsibility. Design/methodology/approach - An interpretive case study approach is adopted for this study. It draws on primary data from interviews with key personnel in public sector organisations, and on secondary data from government publications such as annual reports and budget papers. Findings - This study shows that the market-based performance management system has failed to achieve …


Do Neighbourhoods Have Effects On Wages? A Study Of Migrant Workers In Urban China, Zhiming Cheng, Haining Wang Jan 2012

Do Neighbourhoods Have Effects On Wages? A Study Of Migrant Workers In Urban China, Zhiming Cheng, Haining Wang

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Rural-to-urban migrant workers have contributed enormously to the Chinese economy and society in the past three decades. Many of them have concentrated in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and physically and socially suffered from poor residential environment. However it is unclear how the neighbourhoods-as the provision of shelter, social and public service, and community organizing-influence migrant workers' labour market outcomes. To fill this gap, this paper researches the way in which urban neighbourhoods have affected migrant workers' wages. Factors such as housing quality, social interaction and trust, and neighbourhood organization and participation were examined. Results show that five of eight neighbourhood characteristics had …


Centrelink Prosecutions At The Employment/Benefit Nexus: A Case Study Of Wollongong, Freda Hui, Lee Moerman, Kathy Rudkin Jan 2011

Centrelink Prosecutions At The Employment/Benefit Nexus: A Case Study Of Wollongong, Freda Hui, Lee Moerman, Kathy Rudkin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This report examines financial and social issues pertaining to Centrelink prosecutions for overpayments of unemployment‐related social security benefits. Specifically, it examines the circumstances of prosecutions of those returning to work, and those in precarious casual employment. A sample of overpayment prosecutions in the Wollongong area of New South Wales from July 2008 to June 2010 is profiled and analysed.


Does Managerial Signalling Behaviour Affect Conflict During Npd Projects: An Exploratory Study, Elias Kyriazis, Les Johnson, Paul Couchman Jan 2011

Does Managerial Signalling Behaviour Affect Conflict During Npd Projects: An Exploratory Study, Elias Kyriazis, Les Johnson, Paul Couchman

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Cross-functional relationships during NPD projects have received considerable researchattention with an emphasis on achieving successful integration and avoiding harmfulconflict. The purpose of this paper is to develop and test an exploratory model examiningthe effects of managerial signalling behaviour, at top management and functional level,on conflict in cross-functional working relationships. Focussing on working relationshipbetween marketing managers and R&D managers in 184 new product developmentprojects in Australia this study examines the antecedents of conflict as reported by theR&D Manager. This study provides empirical support for the proposition that while topmanagement actions are useful in facilitating integration, the way a manager perceivestheir functional …


The Implementation Of Authentic Activities For Learning: A Case Study In Finance Education, Mara K. Koplin, Chi Fun Freda Hui Jan 2011

The Implementation Of Authentic Activities For Learning: A Case Study In Finance Education, Mara K. Koplin, Chi Fun Freda Hui

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper seeks to demonstrate how assessment tasks set in a finance subject contribute to an authentic learning experience. Authentic learning has been shown to help connect students’ classroom learning to the outside world. Linking what students are learning in class to the real world enables them to better understand the problems to be faced when dealing with incomplete information, while also engaging them more fully. In this preliminary study we explore the attributes of an authentic learning experience. The assessment task requires each student to research the topics covered in class in relationship to a country that they have …


Australia: The Challenge Of Father-Daughter Succession In Family Business: A Case Study From The Land Down Under, Mary Barrett, Ken Moores Jan 2011

Australia: The Challenge Of Father-Daughter Succession In Family Business: A Case Study From The Land Down Under, Mary Barrett, Ken Moores

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This chapter examines the case of an Australian woman, Roz, who succeeded her father as the CEO of a large fourth-generation family business, Hawkins Family Group, in the traditionally male-dominated transport industry. The case is described in three phases. First, we outline Australian culture how it influences business life, including the position of women in the Australian workforce especially as managers and entrepreneurs. We then describe the history of the Hawkins Family Group and how Roz eventually came to lead it. Finally, we return to aspects of Australian values and culture and other literature to draw conclusions about the case. …


Embedding Notions Of Community In The Teaching-Research Nexus: A Case Study, Mario Fernando, Peter D. Mclean Jan 2010

Embedding Notions Of Community In The Teaching-Research Nexus: A Case Study, Mario Fernando, Peter D. Mclean

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Becoming aware of the variety of ways academics and students experience and apply research in higher education empowers higher education providers, policy makers and academics to become more reflective and critical of the environment in which learning is taking place. Significant shifts in commerce higher education pedagogy that value community engagement as a bridge to holistic education and sustainable social change are taking place. With the increasing need to integrate the community into the teaching-research nexus, social responsibility is moving to the forefront of commerce higher education. The paper is based on the findings of a teaching and learning scholar …


The Health Service Bus: An Architecture And Case Study In Achieving Interoperability In Healthcare, Amanda Ryan, Peter W. Eklund Jan 2010

The Health Service Bus: An Architecture And Case Study In Achieving Interoperability In Healthcare, Amanda Ryan, Peter W. Eklund

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Interoperability in healthcare is a requirement for effective communication between entities, to ensure timely access to up to-date patient information and medical knowledge, and thus facilitate consistent patient care. An interoperability framework called the Health Service Bus (HSB), based on the Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) middleware software architecture is presented here as a solution to all three levels of interoperability as defined by the HL7 EHR Interoperability Work group in their definitive white paper “Coming to Terms”. A prototype HSB system was implemented based on the Mule Open-Source ESB and is outlined and discussed, followed by a clinically-based example.


Electronic Documentation In Residential Aged Care Facilities - A Review Of The Literature On Organisational Issues And Early Findings On Initial Conditions From A Case Study, Kieren Diment, Ping Yu, Karin H. Garrety Jan 2010

Electronic Documentation In Residential Aged Care Facilities - A Review Of The Literature On Organisational Issues And Early Findings On Initial Conditions From A Case Study, Kieren Diment, Ping Yu, Karin H. Garrety

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper discusses the theoretical rationale for an empirical study of organisational change arising from introduction of electronic nursing documentation in residential aged care facilities. The study draws on a processual view of organisational change, which is related to the theory of complex adaptive systems. First we review existing literature on electronic nursing documentation with an organisational focus to provide a context to help outline the research aims of the present study. Then we describe a method to explore the hierarchical nature of the work environment based on the sociological theory of Institutional Ethnography. Finally we use this approach to …


The Turmoil In The Markets For Mis And Ais - A Labor Process Study, Fahrettin Okcabol, George M. Mickhail, Aida Sy, Tony Tinker Jan 2009

The Turmoil In The Markets For Mis And Ais - A Labor Process Study, Fahrettin Okcabol, George M. Mickhail, Aida Sy, Tony Tinker

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

With growing flux in MIS and AIS employment, there is increasing number of questions about the impact and direction of this technology. As far back as 1993, economic surveys consistently showed that the 1993 U.S. economic recovery was the first where white collar employment failed to bounce back (Cooper and Madigan, 1993A; Ehrear, 1993; Farrell et. al., 1993; Mandel and Farrell, 1993.) In the U.S, between March 1991 and April 1993, production jobs rose by 823,000, but white collar payrolls--managerial and administrative positions--fell by 290,000. Even after two years of expansion, non-farm jobs were still below their pre-recession level (Cooper …


Customer Orientation In An Australian Public Service Agency And Its Effect On Public Service Motives: Developing A Research Study, Christa Wood Jan 2009

Customer Orientation In An Australian Public Service Agency And Its Effect On Public Service Motives: Developing A Research Study, Christa Wood

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The Australian public service has experienced dramatic changes during the last few decades. One of the changes is the push for public servants to behave in accordance with private sector principles, such as customer service orientation. This paper is developing a research study that aims to analyse the motivational forces that enable (or disable) the behavioural changes of public servants and what impact (if any) those changes have on traditional public service motives. The study intends to use an extended expectancy-valence model together with a public service motive measurement scale to identify if there are relationships between motivational forces, customer …


A Longitudinal Study Of The Use Of The Web By Regional Tourism Organisations (Rtos) In Australia, Lois Burgess, Belinda Parrish, Joan Cooper, Carole Alcock Jan 2009

A Longitudinal Study Of The Use Of The Web By Regional Tourism Organisations (Rtos) In Australia, Lois Burgess, Belinda Parrish, Joan Cooper, Carole Alcock

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The information-intensive nature of the tourism and travel industry suggests an important role for Web technology in the promotion and marketing of tourist destinations. The rapid development of the Internet is also having profound impacts on the industry. In fact, travel and tourism has become the single largest category of products sold over the Internet (Tourism White Paper, 2007). With reports of travel purchases and reservations being one of the fastest growing segments of the Internet community it is no surprise that the number of tourism operators on the Web has increased considerably over the past few years. This paper …


Dynamic Pricing Support Systems For Diy Retailers - A Case Study From Austria, Martin Natter, Thomas K. Reutterer, Andreas Mild Jan 2009

Dynamic Pricing Support Systems For Diy Retailers - A Case Study From Austria, Martin Natter, Thomas K. Reutterer, Andreas Mild

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Merchandise managers have long dreamt of automated dynamic systems to help them make well-informed pricing decisions. However, such systems have proved as elusive as the Holy Grail - until now, that is. The story of an Austrian DIY retailer shows often undetected opportunities to use valuable information, hidden in retailers' data warehouses, on consumer reactions to previous price changes in order to make automatic pricing and promotion decisions.


The Case Study Methodology In Place Management Research And Practice, Gregory M. Kerr, Gary I. Noble, John Glynn Jan 2008

The Case Study Methodology In Place Management Research And Practice, Gregory M. Kerr, Gary I. Noble, John Glynn

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assist those in the relatively new field of place management to undertake sound and appropriate research for which there is a current need. Approach: This paper identifies and provides an interpretation of key terms associated with research in the social and behavioural sciences and then recommends the case study methodology as being appropriate for research in place management. Findings: Based on a review of the literature this paper offers a viewpoint about the meaning and application of the terms ‘methodology’, ‘methods,’ ‘ways’, ‘strategies’ and ‘approaches’ when they are applied to research. Research …


Community Valuations Of Environmental Quality In Coastal Lakes: Lake Illawarra Case Study, Ann T. Hodgkinson, Abbas Valadkhani Jan 2008

Community Valuations Of Environmental Quality In Coastal Lakes: Lake Illawarra Case Study, Ann T. Hodgkinson, Abbas Valadkhani

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study illustrates how the hedonic pricing method can measure the value of environmental assets in an urban setting. A HPM valuation, utilising relatively easily accessible secondary data, and a semi-logarithmic regression form, is used. The value achieved was substantially greater than either expenditures to date or the actuarial valuation of Lake Illawarra. The study demonstrates the applicability of the technique and recommends its further development and use for this type of public decision-making. A range of other data was also generated that adds to the usefulness of this approach for general planning purposes.


Corporate Social Responsibility Website Representations: A Longitudinal Study Of Internal And External Self-Presentations, Debra Z. Basil, Jill Erlandson Jan 2008

Corporate Social Responsibility Website Representations: A Longitudinal Study Of Internal And External Self-Presentations, Debra Z. Basil, Jill Erlandson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This research undertakes a longitudinal study to assess the representation of CSR activities on Canadian companies' websites. A systematic sample of the websites of 159 companies from Canada's top 1000 was assessed in 2003 and 2006. Results reveal that only 27% expressed some form of CSR activity in 2003, compared to 67% in 2006. Based on a frame from Weaver, Trevino, and Cochran (1999a), CSR activities are categorized as external or internal. A strong increase in internal CSR activities is evident. Companies that are more successful indicate more CSR activity on their websites; this effect is driven primarily by internal …


An Empirical Study Of The Antecedents And Consequence Of Calculative Commitment In B2b Services, Venkata K. Yanamandram, Lesley White Jan 2007

An Empirical Study Of The Antecedents And Consequence Of Calculative Commitment In B2b Services, Venkata K. Yanamandram, Lesley White

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This research proposes and empirically analyses a model that considers switching costs and attractiveness of alternative service providers as antecedents to calculative commitment, and repurchase intentions as one of its consequences. Given that calculatively committed customers are important in fading relationships, we test these constructs amongst dissatisfied business services customers because research on the continuation of troubled business relationships is scarce. Data was collected online from 416 businesses using a key informant approach. Results support the contention that the antecedents of calculative commitment are attractiveness of alternative service providers and switching costs, specifically, benefit-loss costs, customer-service provider relationships costs and …


Women's Leadership Journeys In Family Firms: Preliminary Results From A Qualitative Study, Mary Barrett, Ken Moores Jan 2006

Women's Leadership Journeys In Family Firms: Preliminary Results From A Qualitative Study, Mary Barrett, Ken Moores

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The family business literature has thus far not devoted much attention to understanding female vantage points in family firms (e.g. Dumas, 1998; Sharma, 2004). Poza and Messer (2001) and Curimbaba (2002) describe the varying roles that women adopt, but without explaining why they adopt such roles. Our research examines the career progression of women leaders in family businesses, specifically how various roles allow them to progressively learn skills and competencies.In an earlier book (Moores and Barrett, 2002) we found that successful family firm CEOs encountered a series of unique paradoxes. Exploring, understanding and perhaps managing these paradoxes took them on …


Implementation Of An Integrated Accounting And Cost Management System Using Sap System: A Field Study, Sudhir C. Lodh, Michael J. Gaffikin Jan 2006

Implementation Of An Integrated Accounting And Cost Management System Using Sap System: A Field Study, Sudhir C. Lodh, Michael J. Gaffikin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Not only are in-depth (theoretically informed) longitudinal (reflexive) field studies few and far between, it has been argued in those studies that little is known about the design and implementation of accounting and information systems that operate in today's world-class organizations. Using such an approach this study seeks to illustrate and analyse the implementation processes of an integrated accounting and cost management system using the SAP system at a major steel producer in Australia. It is demonstrated that the technical design of the system is only a part of the implementation process. Keeping 'actor-networks' in line and managing change including …


Process Flow Mapping Of Consumers In A High Involvement Service Purchase Process: An Exploratory Study, Robert G. Grant, Elias Kyriazis Jan 2006

Process Flow Mapping Of Consumers In A High Involvement Service Purchase Process: An Exploratory Study, Robert G. Grant, Elias Kyriazis

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on an exploratory study undertaken to deal with the intricacy of consumer behaviour in a buying process for a complex high involvement service bundle spanning both offline and online channels. A key finding is that consumers switch repeatedly between online and offline channels and between different types of information source to satisfy their search needs. This offers a challenge for communications management if organisations wish to add customer value by minimising their customer time and effort search costs. Prior online channel research has not acknowledged off-line information complementarity for complex high involvement search. Travel agents and principal …


A Comparative Study Of Public Domain Supervised Classifier Performance On The Uci Database, Peter W. Eklund, A Hoang Jan 2006

A Comparative Study Of Public Domain Supervised Classifier Performance On The Uci Database, Peter W. Eklund, A Hoang

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper surveys three classes of public domain supervised learning algorihms and performs comparative analysis of their performance against 29 of the University California Irvine machine learning datasets.


Corporate Social Responsibility In The Wake Of The Asian Tsunami: An Empirical Study, Mario Fernando Jan 2006

Corporate Social Responsibility In The Wake Of The Asian Tsunami: An Empirical Study, Mario Fernando

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper provides input on how the leaders of two leading Sri Lankan private sector organisations engaged in CSR initiatives during the first 11-months after the Asian tsunami. Amidst stakeholders’ overwhelming outpouring of spontaneity to engage in CSR activities, the paper reports on the decision-making and leadership challenges of business leaders after a high magnitude human tragedy. The paper specifically examines as to what extent the CSR initiatives following the tsunami disaster were a reflection of leaders’ authentic moral conduct. Due to the magnitude of the devastation from the tsunami, one would assume that the CSR initiatives that follow such …


Attitudes Of Private Firms In Gcc Countries Towards Employing Indian Nationals: A Case Study, Mokhtar M. Metwally Jan 2005

Attitudes Of Private Firms In Gcc Countries Towards Employing Indian Nationals: A Case Study, Mokhtar M. Metwally

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper tries to find out how private firms engaged in different economic activities in GCC countries differ in terms of their preference ratings of various attributes of Indian employees.


Qualitative Case Study Research In Africa And Asia: Challenges And Prospects, Bubaker Shareia, Balakrishnan Parasuraman, Bernadine Cantrick-Brooks Jan 2005

Qualitative Case Study Research In Africa And Asia: Challenges And Prospects, Bubaker Shareia, Balakrishnan Parasuraman, Bernadine Cantrick-Brooks

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Much of the literature on research design has focussed on research conducted in developed, uni-cultural or primarily English speaking countries. Studies of qualitative case study research, the challenges and prospects, have been embedded in Western/Euro-centric society and social theories. Although there have been some theoretical studies, few empirical studies have been conducted to explore the nature of the challenges of qualitative case study in Africa and Asia. These challenges include cultural and language issues affecting access to companies and respondent issues and data analysis and financial issues. The authors while conducting qualitative case study research in Libya and Malaysia faced …


An Investigation Into Student Approaches To Learning At A Multicultural University Using The Revised Study Process Questionnaire, L. Smith Jan 2005

An Investigation Into Student Approaches To Learning At A Multicultural University Using The Revised Study Process Questionnaire, L. Smith

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper is an exploratory study into student approaches to learning at a multicultural university. It is particularly relevant to higher education today, which is taking on a more global perspective, especially in the developing world where this university is situated. The instrument used to measure student approaches to learning is the revised Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) and the results are analysed using factor analysis. The SPQ was revised in 2001 to take into account the changing nature of students in higher education, with emphasis on students from diverse cultural backgrounds, and was therefore considered appropriate for this study. The …


Electronic Commerce Adoption And Strategic Alliance Membership: A Study Of Regional Smes In Sweden, Robert C. Macgregor, Lejla Vrazalic Jan 2005

Electronic Commerce Adoption And Strategic Alliance Membership: A Study Of Regional Smes In Sweden, Robert C. Macgregor, Lejla Vrazalic

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The changes brought about by electronic commerce have had a profound effect on small to medium enterprises (SMEs). To manage these changes, SMEs have been encouraged to form strategic alliances. Yet despite the proclaimed advantages of such alliances, little research has been carried out to determine whether these structures have any impact on an SME’s decision to adopt e-commerce. There has also been a lack of research into comparing e-commerce adoption in those SMEs that are members of a strategic alliance to those that have opted to remain outside such arrangements. This paper aims to correct the situation by presenting …


Country-Of-Origin Influence On Quality Perception Of Products Sold In Gcc Countries: A Case Study, Mokhtar M. Metwally Jan 2005

Country-Of-Origin Influence On Quality Perception Of Products Sold In Gcc Countries: A Case Study, Mokhtar M. Metwally

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper attempts to test the importance of country of origin in influencing the quality perception of products by GCC consumes.


Executive Information Systems And The Top-Officers' Roles: An Exploratory Study Of User-Behaviour Model And Lessons Learnt, Emmanuel Ikart Jan 2005

Executive Information Systems And The Top-Officers' Roles: An Exploratory Study Of User-Behaviour Model And Lessons Learnt, Emmanuel Ikart

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In recent years a number of organisations have implemented executive information systems (EIS) in order to improve the performance of their executives’ jobs. Although the use of EIS is important in executives’ work, the majority of executives are unwilling to use EIS applications because of their design flaws. By using social factors, habits and facilitation condition variables from Triandis’ framework, this paper extends the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to derive useful variables to address the problem of the low usage of EIS by executives. This paper reports on research in progress in Australia on the adoption and usage of EIS …