Business Commons^™

Myth: Hard Work And Credentials Determine Employment Opportunities

Alev Dudek

Navigating The Territories Of Indigenous Leadership: Exploring The Experiences And Practices Of Australian Indigenous Arts Leaders, Michelle Evans, Amanda Sinclair

Michelle Evans

This article explores the leadership of Australian Indigenous artists and arts leaders. We advance the idea of ‘territories’ to convey the overlapping contexts in which Indigenous artistic leaders work, and through this framework seek to highlight the embodied ways individuals enact leadership across country and community. Thematic, narrative and discursive analysis of 29 in-depth interviews with diverse Indigenous artists identify four territories and multiple practices of leadership in which our participants engage. The four territories are: authorisation in a bi-cultural world (cultural authorisation and self-authorising); identity and belonging (both fearless and connected); artistic practice (innovative and custodian of cultural values); …

Intangible Capital In A Real Business Cycle Model, Kashif Malik, Syed Ali, Ahmed Khalid

Ahmed Khalid

Recent empirical studies have shown that intangible capital plays an important role in explaining productivity gains that have occurred during the last two decades. By introducing intangible capital in an otherwise standard theoretical real business cycle model, this paper aims to provide a theoretical foundation of the empirical findings. Our results indicate that investment in intangible capital is pro-cyclical. Both transitory aswell as permanent productivity shocks increase investment in intangible capital. However, in case of a permanent technology shock we learn that firms allocate more labor and physical capital to the creation of intangible capital which increases future profits at …

Do Sweat It: Using A Fitness Session As An Introduction To Research On The Relationship Between Physical And Mental States, A. Kenworthy, George Hrivnak

George Hrivnak

In this article, a hands-on experiential exercise session in a fitness centre is presented as a teaching tool for management instructors to facilitate a theoretically based discussion about the connection between individuals' physical and mental states. Before discussing the components of the exercise session itself, a rationale for integrating this exercise into management courses is presented. The exercise session is then described, with an overview of the logistics and operational components including both the legal release form and the reflection questions that are used before and after the session. Readers are encouraged to consider integrating this teaching tool into any …

Decision-Making In Economics: Critical Lessons From Neurobiology, Renato Alas, Kuldeep Kumar, Avik Mukherjee, Munirul Nabin, Sukanto Bhattacharya

Kuldeep Kumar

In this chapter, the authors consider some of the issues regarding the rational choice decision framework in neoclassical economics and how it can particularly be found wanting in the absence of due consideration for some of the underlying critical neurobiological factors which govern decision making. They develop a critical decision problem and explore the scenario where the solution predicted by formal economic theory may be in conflict with the decision that actually occurs. Such conflict is especially relevant in the context of economic decision making in emerging markets where there can be a lack of trust in the system by …

Conceptualizing A Transformative Research Agenda, David Crockett, Hillary Downey, A Firat, Julie Ozanne, Simone Pettigrew

David Crockett

Transformative consumer researchers seek to enhance consumer well-being by tackling some of the more difficult and intractable social problems and getting the results into the hands of stakeholders who can apply the research findings. Although traditional research approaches offer a viable path for doing research seeking positive social change, alternative research approaches exist that are uniquely suited to the challenges of Transformative Consumer Research. This article examines the standard research process from the perspective of a transformative research agenda to highlight steps in the process that can be better adapted and suggests innovations inspired from other translational research programs.

Global Culture Concerns, Korcel M. Price

Korcel M Price

The following proposal seeks to change hiring, promoting, and firing practices among global and trans-national companies. The changes are intended to fortify the organization through better management, a better employee contract, and by moving closer to a learning organization.

At the heart of the proposal is the desire to move hiring, promoting, and firing practices to an external or internal third party, as means of creating a global culture that consistently applies the values of supra system’s organization.

Portfolio Management: The Australian Experience, Aileen Koh, Lynn Crawford

Lynn Crawford

The increasing use of projects and programs by organizations to achieve business strategy and goals has led to the need for understanding project portfolio management. Along with the increasing diffusion of portfolio management, a new managerial role has evolved: the portfolio manager. This new role is pivotal in planning and controlling complex project landscapes more effectively and efficiently. This study investigates the governance structures and the roles, responsibilities, and practices of portfolio managers. A sequential mixed-method approach under a realism paradigm is used. This article presents the first-stage qualitative study, using an inductive interview-based approach with six portfolio managers from …

Promoting: Programs For And Challenges Of The Knowledge-Based Small Business, Joan Imukuka, Bhishna Bajracharya, Linda Too, Greg Hearn

Bhishna Bajracharya

ExtractSmall businesses have long been recognized for their contributions to innovation, job creation and the overall health of most economies (Audretsch, 2004; North et al., 2001; Tilley and Tonge, 2003). Government policies in most countries, therefore, often include support measures and infrastructure to help nurture small businesses, particularly in relation to their innovation-related needs (North et al., 2001). Most recently, there has been growing interest in fostering the emergence of new and innovative small businesses, especially in the high-technology and knowledge-intensive sectors (Bridge et al., 2009). The ’high technology’ and ’knowledge-intensive sectors’ are those sectors of the economy that have …

Twin Brothers In Arms Learn The Family Business, Justin Craig, Wayne Irava, Ken Moores

Justin B. Craig

ExtractIn this case, Moores and Barrett’s (2002) family business learning and life cycle framework has been used as the foundation, along with entrepreneurialorientation (EO) (Lumpkin and Dess 1996; Miller 1983) and the resource-based view of the firm (RBV) (Mahoney and Pandian 1992; Peteraf 1993; Wernerfelt 1984), for a review of an intriguing Australian second generation migrant family business.

Value Change, Right Wing Visual Rhetoric And The ‘Fear Game’: The Discursive Transformation Of The Tourist Image Of Switzerland, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

A Framework For Understanding Opportunity Recognition: Entrepreneurs Versus Private Equity Financiers, Noel Lindsay, Justin Craig

Justin B. Craig

The issue of opportunity recognition, as opposed to opportunity evaluation, has received far less attention. Yet it is opportunity recognition that often drives deals. This article presents and tests six hypotheses on opportunity recognition against a sample of 262 respondents divided among financiers and entrepreneurs. The hypotheses measure the differences between respondents' views on the following topics: alertness to opportunities; creativity and idea generation; search process and strategies; causes of opportunities; opportunity sources; evaluation; and “feel.” In general, both groups had similar responses, but several interesting differences were discovered.

How Managerial Attitudes Toward The Natural Environment Affect Market Orientation And Innovation, Clay Dibrell, Justin Craig, Eric Hansen

Justin B. Craig

This study investigates natural environmental attitude linkages held by strategic decision makers and hypothesizes that the interaction between market orientation and managerial natural environmental attitudes serves to enhance the effect of market orientation on firm innovativeness. Using questionnaire responses from 284 owners or chief executive officers residing in the food processing industry, the findings establish evidence of (1) a positive linkage between market orientation and firm innovativeness, and (2) the moderating effect of managerial attitudes of top managers toward the natural environmental in the market orientation to firm innovativeness relationship. The results provide insight into the nature of the cultural …

Stars Under The Southern Cross: The Untold Stories Of Queensland Family Businesses, Noel Lindsay, Justin Craig

Justin B. Craig

This book, a Centenary of Federation celebration project, contains many Queensland family business stories that had been forgotten for one reason or another. Stories of hardship, of sadness, of joy and of success, as well as some failures. There are stories of families and businesses that have gone on to become household names both in Australia and overseas. The stories come from all regions of Queensland and all industries are represented, such is the scope of the family business community. Stories from Queensland’s family businesses could fill many books like this one. There are many more families who have contributed …

Understanding Family Enterprise: A Book Of Readings, Ken Moores, Justin Craig

Justin B. Craig

This collection of papers, written over a span of about 16 years by researchers associated with the Australian Centre for Family Business (ACFB) at Bond University highlight diversity in family business scholarship. Diversity not only with respect to topics but also the range of audiences to which the various communication messages were delivered is indicative of an area of emerging scholarship. The purpose of the collection is primarily to chronicle the distinctive learning experiences of ACFB researchers rather than be a comprehensive coverage of all aspects of family enterprises.

Trust Perceptions Of Online Travel Information By Different Content Creators: Some Social And Legal Implications., Stephen Burgess, Carmine Sellitto, Carmen Cox, Jeremy Buultjens

Carmen Cox

Consumers are increasingly turning to the online environment to provide information to assist them in making purchase decisions related to travel products. They often rely on travel recommendations from different sources, such as sellers, independent experts and, increasingly, other consumers. A new type of online content, user-generated content (UGC), provides a number of legal and social challenges to providers and users of that content, especially in relation to areas such as defamation, misrepresentation and social embarrassment. This paper reports research that examined the level of trustworthiness of online travel information from these different sources. The study used a survey of …

A Phenomenographic Study Of What It Means To Supervise Doctoral Students, April Wright, Jane Murray, Patricia Geale

Jane Murray

We utilize the research methodology of phenomenography in this study to explore what doctoral supervisors understand supervision to be and how they enact this understanding in the practice of supervising students. Twenty interviews were undertaken with supervisors at three Australian universities to uncover “lived” experiences of doctoral research supervision. Five qualitatively different ways of conceiving supervisors’ roles emerged through phenomenographic analysis of the transcripts. Our findings suggest that while supervisors undertake similar tasks when supervising, they approach these tasks differently because of their qualitatively different understandings of what supervision is.

Understanding The "Partner" In Partnerships: A Review Of The Literature On Effective University-Community Partnering, Amy Kenworthy-U'Ren, Baden U'Ren

Baden U'Ren

Sustainable and effective university-community partnerships are not easy to create, yet they are an integral part of student community-based learning (Enos & Morton, 2003). To date, the main emphasis in most university-community partner research has been on the participating students, with a paucity of attention paid to the equal partners in the venture- the local community organization members (Bushouse, 2005). In this paper, the extant literature on effective university-community partnering is reviewed and key themes are drawn to assist practitioners and researchers who are involved in the design, execution and analysis of partnership programs. The goal of this paper is …

Tourism And The Third Sector: Shifting Values, Changing Relationships, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

Contested Heritage In The Ancient City Of Peace, William Feighery

William Feighery

论文摘要 作为中国古代十三朝都城，西安（古称长安）蕴藏着中国最重要历史时期的丰富遗产，是世界主要考古中心之一。由于其在政治历史遗产方面的优势地位，西安一直立于文化遗产研究争鸣的前沿，有关其在二十一世纪中国发展进程中的地位和影响亦为热点论题。当前，西安正面临着来自全球化、城市化和国内外旅游者三方面的影响。在近几十年，尤其是随着本世纪初一项复兴“唐皇城”宏伟计划的出台及逐步实施，西安市人口密集的老城区逐渐成为关注和讨论的焦点。这篇论文就此项 “唐皇城复兴规划”将对西安老城区历史文化遗产带来的影响进行了讨论，还着力分析了该规划对老城内穆斯林社区回族居民的日常精神文化生活可能产生的冲击。这项规划将引发西安城市面貌和社会结构的重要变化。与此同时，该规划的实施还将使西安遭遇来自两方面的挑战：一方面如何协调保护历史遗产与满足居民现实需求两者关系，另一方面如何把现有老城区改造成以旅游业为主导的新型城市空间。

The Natural Environment, Innovation And Firm Performance: A Comparative Study, Justin Craig, Clay Dibrell

Justin B. Craig

In this article, we investigate the effect of firm-level natural-environment-related policies on innovation and financial performance in family and nonfamily firms. Our findings demonstrate that family firms are better able to facilitate environmentally friendly firm policies associated with improved firm innovation and greater financial performance more effectively than their nonfamily competitors.

Mountain Tourism And Social Change, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

Consulting Ethics For Tourism, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

Tourism Development And Culture Conflict In Xi’An, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

Entrepreneurship Education: Towards A Discipline-Based Framework, Debra Johnson, Justin Craig, Ryan Hildebrand

Justin B. Craig

Purpose – The purpose of this exploratory research was to investigate whether: entrepreneurship in the higher education context can be distinguished by disciplined-based needs; and curricula can be developed around these needs. Design/methodology/approach – The authors reviewed the literature related to the development of professions in order to establish a sound theoretical base to distinguish disciplines that require stringent criteria, and which potentially would challenge the introduction of a more flexible curriculum that includes contemporary concepts such as entrepreneurship. The research then focused on two other groups of disciplines which lead to entrepreneurial opportunities with distinct needs in (principally) people …

Establishing Individual Differences Related To Opportunity Alertness And Innovation Dependent On Academic-Career Training, Justin Craig, Debra Johnson

Justin B. Craig

Purpose – The purpose of this research was to investigate using the seminal writings of Schumpeter and Kirzner as a guide – individuals who are potentially involved in entrepreneurship can be identified as being innovators or opportunity-alert. Specifically, this exploratory project attempts to answer the following question: “Are some individuals better at being innovators, while others are better able to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities and, if so, does academic-career training matter?” Design/methodology/approach – The study relied on purposive sampling and received survey responses from postgraduate students in business and engineering. The 26-item survey was made up of demographic indices and questions …

From Vision To Variables: A Scorecard To Continue The Professionalization Of A Family Firm, Ken Moores, Justin Craig

Justin B. Craig

This chapter builds on previous projects we have conducted that have concentrated on the key areas of corporate governance and strategic planning in family business. Whereas our previous projects have enlisted an additive approach (that saw the family perspective added to the business), this current research takes on an integrated approach and seeks to integrate issues that influence the family and business systems. Specifically, in this research we use innovation action research (Kaplan, 1998) to illustrate how the Balanced Scorecard that includes reference to family business challenges has been introduced and used to assist family members, board members and management …

Working With Family Business: A Content Validity Study Of The Aspen Family Business Inventory, S. Moncrief, J. Paul, Justin Craig

Justin B. Craig

No abstract provided.

Staging Intangible Cultural Heritage In Xi’An., William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.

Tourism Development In A Changing Social Context, William Feighery

William Feighery

No abstract provided.