Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 26 of 26
Full-Text Articles in Business
Innovation And Economic Education: An Integration, Eduardo Pol
Innovation And Economic Education: An Integration, Eduardo Pol
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
Almost everyone agrees on the importance of educating a broad spectrum of the public about economics and business. It has been suggested by experts in economic education that universities should place greater emphasis on economics as a general education. The present paper develops a proposal to integrate innovation into elementary economic education that business faculties might use to enrich their general economic education offerings. We believe the proposal can be implemented through the design of a new subject - which may be called the 'Creative Economy' - supported by a method of teaching and learning by successive approximations. The study …
Reconciling The Invisible Hand And Innovation, Eduardo Pol
Reconciling The Invisible Hand And Innovation, Eduardo Pol
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
It is generally agreed that Adam Smith invoked the Invisible Hand to send the message to posterity that a free-market economy is the best form of economic organization. Strictly speaking, the Invisible Hand of Adam Smith is a conjecture about the virtues of a free-market economy. There are three claims in this paper concerning the interpretation of the Invisible Hand conjecture. First, the neoclassical interpretation engenders a conceptual confusion -identified here as the 'double paradox' of the Invisible Hand. Second, the interpretation of Adam Smith's conjecture on the beneficial effects of the free-market economy cannot -and should not- be confined …
Historical Approaches To Creativity And Innovation, Simon Ville
Historical Approaches To Creativity And Innovation, Simon Ville
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
In this chapter, I will analyse historical approaches to creativity and innovation. Initially, this will take the form of a broad international comparative perspective and then, more specifically, I will address recent Australian historical experience. This will include a focussed look at sources of new technology in the interwar period. In the final section of the paper, I will address briefly the policy implications arising from the historical survey.
The Spread Of Ict Innovation In Accounting Education, Sam H. Jebeile, Indra Abeysekera
The Spread Of Ict Innovation In Accounting Education, Sam H. Jebeile, Indra Abeysekera
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper conveys the findings of a study conducted to evaluate the initiation of an interactive online computer-assisted learning module, called WEBLEARN, in an undergraduate introductory accounting course at an Australian university. The purpose was to aid students in the preparation of cash flow statements, a topic that from the student perspective is usually considered fairly difficult. Following the pilot of the module, student responses were collected via questionnaire in order to evaluate their perceptions regarding the WEBLEARN module. Diffusion of innovations theory was utilized as a framework for assessing student responses and to guide further development of modules in …
Innovation In The Web Marketing Programs Of American Convention And Visitor Bureaus, Florian Zach, Ulrike Gretzel, Zheng Xiang
Innovation In The Web Marketing Programs Of American Convention And Visitor Bureaus, Florian Zach, Ulrike Gretzel, Zheng Xiang
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
It is generally acknowledged that innovation is an important source for competitive advantage among tourism destinations. The goal of this study was to identify and assess the nature of innovation by American convention and visitors bureaus. In particular, this study examined the extent, timeliness, and continuity of innovation in Web marketing efforts and the perceived contribution of this investment to the overall success of the bureau's Web marketing program. The findings indicate that American convention and visitor bureaus have invested substantially in their websites and continue redesigning them as new technology and Web marketing trends emerge. However, it appears that …
Social Innovation: Buzz Word Or Enduring Term?, Eduardo Pol, Simon Ville
Social Innovation: Buzz Word Or Enduring Term?, Eduardo Pol, Simon Ville
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
The term 'social innovation' has come into common parlance in recent years. Some analysts consider social innovation no more than a buzz word or passing fad that is too vague to be usefully applied to academic scholarship. Some social scientists, however, see significant value in the concept of social innovation because it identifies a critical type of innovation. In this paper, we suggest one possible definition of social innovation and show that when its empirical meaning is distilled, the term is of great importance. We distinguish social innovation from business innovation, and identify a subset of social innovations that requires …
Assessing And Building Innovation And Learning Capacity In Local Organizations, Samuel Garrett-Jones
Assessing And Building Innovation And Learning Capacity In Local Organizations, Samuel Garrett-Jones
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
Conceptual models of regional innovation systems have prompted major government initiatives in Europe and North America to assess and to promote local innovation and learning capabilities. In Australia, by contrast, local governments and other local organizations concerned with economic and social development are faltering. Lacking is (1) a conceptual understanding of local knowledge and innovation networks; (2) data on local innovation actors and activities; and (3) clarity on the most effective ways for municipal and regional government to 'construct advantage' in a federal system. The paper reviews the 'macro' (e.g. innovation surveys) and 'micro' (e.g. case studies) approach to assessing …
Choice And Context In Studying Change, Creativity And Innovation At Work: Call Off The Search For Excellence, Question Combinational Perspectives, And Loosen The Straightjacket Of Polarised Views, Patrick M. Dawson
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This article draws attention to debates on studying change, creativity and innovation at work. Attention is given to 'stable' and 'process' views of organizations and how these positions influence research objectives, methodological approach and findings. The paper is critical of those who seek to hold to a superior position - a one best approach for all; as well as those who seek the best from all worlds - a combinational approach that services both quantitative and qualitative research. In drawing on over 25 years of field research on change management, the paper also seeks to explore the broken links between …
Teaching And Learning Business Innovation By Successive Approximations, Jorge E. Fernandez-Pol
Teaching And Learning Business Innovation By Successive Approximations, Jorge E. Fernandez-Pol
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper describes a strategy for teaching and learning business innovation by successive approximations. This novel strategy has two major sources: the book An Introduction to the Creative Economy by Pol and Carroll (2007), and intense observation of how novices learn the discipline. I will draw an analogy between the observation of an unknown planet and the study of business innovation as a tool for helping participants to connect with the suggested pedagogical approach. In essence, the approach consists of three approximations: first, identification of the dimensions or areas that are of absolutely fundamental importance for teaching and learning business …
Innovation And Inertia: The Emerging Dislocation Of Imperatives Within The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Innovation And Inertia: The Emerging Dislocation Of Imperatives Within The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
A common theory in current innovation literature, and one that this paper supports, is that spatially defined industry clusters provide incubation for ‘competitive advantage’. It is the heightened interaction between ‘actors’, the intense vertical integration and concentration of resources that creates enclaves of innovation within which activity is leveraged in an efficient and productive manner. A less studied aspect of such activity, however, is the structural and organizational inertia that may result as imperatives of cluster participants dislocate from those of their host industry. A sector in which this is becoming apparent is the Australian wine industry. It appears that …
Fault Lines: Emerging Domains Of Inertia Within The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Fault Lines: Emerging Domains Of Inertia Within The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
It is common knowledge that the Australian wine industry has enjoyed remarkable success over the past three decades in terms of production and export growth, innovation and reputation for consistent quality. The centralization of resources and infrastructure, as well as the nationally-oriented funding and R&D agendas are usually cited as providing the foundation for this success. Yet in more recent years it is this same nationally-focused centralization that is increasingly at odds with a rapidly changing international wine landscape and therefore, the organizational and innovation requirements of the firms that must respond to these changes. This paper explores these issues …
The Institutional Legacy And The Development Of An Australian National Innovation System, Simon Ville
The Institutional Legacy And The Development Of An Australian National Innovation System, Simon Ville
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
Institutions are the rules of the game that help to shape the long-term historical development of societies. They mediate human interaction and can be more or less formal (or tangible) in nature ranging from systems of government to common modes of behaviour. Most formal institutions can be distinguished as economic, social, political or cultural in nature although such distinctions are more difficult to make for informal institutions. What is certain is the pervasive impact of all types of institutions on a country’s multifaceted development. Thus, economic performance may be shaped as much by a nation’s legal system as by its …
Innovation Lock-In: Unlocking Research And Development Path Dependency In The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Innovation Lock-In: Unlocking Research And Development Path Dependency In The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
Innovation within the Australian wine industry is at a crossroads. More specifically, under the influence of fundamental paradigm shifts, the objectives, extension and uptake of R&D within the industry’s current innovation framework are being subjected to rather schizophrenic forces. At one level, industry organizations are directing the R&D agenda from within a national, ‘Brand Australia’ context. At another level, the firms that are being serviced by these organizations are demanding region-specific R&D extension in response to global pressure for differentiation and products at higher price-points. This paper will explore these contradictory forces and the degree to which they signal an …
Emerging Interorganizational Structures In The Australian Wine Industry: Implications For Smes, D. K. Aylward, Michael Zanko
Emerging Interorganizational Structures In The Australian Wine Industry: Implications For Smes, D. K. Aylward, Michael Zanko
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper discusses the globalization of the wine industry in terms of such issues as global production, distribution, technology transfer and branding. It also examines the increasing focus on localization and cluster development in light of the industry’s current rationalization. The paper argues that with such reconfiguration, ‘New’ and ‘Old World’ distinctions are blurring and may disappear. Furthermore, as the wine landscape evolves, regional cluster-based interorganizational domains are forming, along with the emergence of regional branding and the decline of a homogeneous Australian level industry. It is contended that these domains are essential in securing an ongoing role for SMEs.
The Road To Innovation: Experiences In The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
The Road To Innovation: Experiences In The Australian Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
No abstract provided.
The Play Of Power And Politics In Innovation And Hrm, Michael Zanko, Richard Badham, Paul Couchman, Maren Schubert
The Play Of Power And Politics In Innovation And Hrm, Michael Zanko, Richard Badham, Paul Couchman, Maren Schubert
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper analyses the human resource management (HRM) practices involved in the implementation of a process innovation approach to product development (concurrent engineering (CE)) in the Australian subsidiary of a multinational firm engaged in military defence electronics. According to the research literature, almost all aspects of managing product development under a CE approach are linked to people management. Yet in this particular case, other than project team structure, the prescriptive HRM dimensions of CE were conspicuously absent in the implementation process. This absence is explained by the play of power and politics involving stakeholders analysed over an 18 month period. …
Sme Innovation Within The Australian Wine Industry: A Cluster Analysis, David Aylward, John Glynn
Sme Innovation Within The Australian Wine Industry: A Cluster Analysis, David Aylward, John Glynn
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper assesses core innovation activity among SMEs within different levels of cluster development. The aim of the paper, using empirical data from the Australian wine industry, is to demonstrate that innovation levels and activity intensify as an industry cluster develops. By dividing wine clusters into ‘innovative’ (highly developed) and ‘organised’ (less developed) models, the paper uses selected core indicators of innovation activity to explore levels of integration within each model. This integration is examined in the context of Porter’s theory of ‘competitive advantage’, with implications for SMEs in particular, and lessons for industry clusters in general.
Global Landscapes: A Speculative Assessment Of Emerging Organizational Structures Within The International Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Global Landscapes: A Speculative Assessment Of Emerging Organizational Structures Within The International Wine Industry, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
As a rapidly evolving sector the international wine industry represents an interesting subject for analysis. Over the past two centuries the industry has experienced a number of major innovations and direction changes. The organizational shifts involved in these changes have been profound. From a monopolization of wine culture through the 19th and much of the 20th century by Europeans, to the emergence of New World operators and their democratic influence, the international wine industry now stands at the edge of another major paradigm shift. This paper traces the industry’s historical changes and speculates on the implications of such issues as …
Assessing Sme Innovation Within Different Cluster Models: Lessons From The Australian Wine Industry, David Aylward, John Glynn
Assessing Sme Innovation Within Different Cluster Models: Lessons From The Australian Wine Industry, David Aylward, John Glynn
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper assesses core innovation activity among SMEs within different levels of cluster development. The aim of the paper, using empirical data from the Australian wine industry, is to demonstrate that innovation levels and activity intensify as an industry cluster develops. By dividing wine clusters into ‘innovative’ (highly developed) and ‘organised’ (less developed) models, the paper uses selected core indicators of innovation activity to explore levels of integration within each model. This integration is examined in the context of Porter’s theory of ‘competitive advantage’, with implications for SMEs in particular, and lessons for industry clusters in general.
Wine Clusters Equal Export Success, D. K. Aylward
Wine Clusters Equal Export Success, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
The export success of the Australian wine industry continues to gain momentum. As this phenomenon becomes increasingly apparent, more and more studies are focusing on the association between levels of export intensity among firms within a wine cluster as opposed to those in non-cluster environments. The general claim is that clusters provide highly productive environments that encourage greater export awareness among firms, create conditions more conducive to international marketing, provide greater brand awareness and thereby facilitate increased levels of export activity. The author has recently completed a number of studies that, at least in the Australian context, substantiate these claims. …
Innovation Heterogeneity And Schumpeterian Growth Models, Eduardo Pol, P. Carroll
Innovation Heterogeneity And Schumpeterian Growth Models, Eduardo Pol, P. Carroll
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
Innovation heterogeneity refers to two empirical facts: economic sectors vary according to sources and rates of innovation, and innovations vary in terms of the magnitude of their economic impact. The central focus of this paper is the problem of scale effects in the Schumpeterian growth models. Although these models make endogenous the production of innovations, they assume not only an oversimplified pattern of sectoral innovation but also that major innovations are virtually indistinguishable from minor innovations. The main claim of the a er is that without a theoretical framework revolving around both the existence of realistic sectoral patterns of innovation …
Mapping Australia's Wine Exporters, D. K. Aylward
Mapping Australia's Wine Exporters, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
No abstract provided.
A Documentary Of Innovation Support Among New World Wine Industries, D. K. Aylward
A Documentary Of Innovation Support Among New World Wine Industries, D. K. Aylward
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
During the past two decades, the international wine industry has undergone a ‘seismic shift’. Old World producers no longer dominate production, export and marketing of wine to the extent that they once did. Instead, New World producers such as California, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand have successfully married production, management, marketing and innovation to emerge as a new force on the global wine landscape. It is the innovation supports within these selected New World industries that this paper seeks to document, in order to highlight different approaches and outcomes and how they may or may not contribute to an …
The Politics Of Human Resource Management In Implementing Process Innovation, Michael Zanko, Richard Badham, Maren Schubert
The Politics Of Human Resource Management In Implementing Process Innovation, Michael Zanko, Richard Badham, Maren Schubert
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
This paper analyses a longitudinal case study of organizational and human resource management (HRM) dimensions in the implementation of an approach to product development (concurrent engineering (CE)) in a multinational firm engaged in defence electronics. Most aspects of managing product development in CE are linked to people management. Yet in this case, other than project team structure, prescriptive HRM dimensions of CE received little attention in the implementation process. This failure to address the 'formal' prescribed HRM issues is explained by a multilayer analysis of the play of power and political lobbying among 'stakeholders' over time: the HRM function, key …
Competition And Innovation: Small And Medium Enterprises In The New Economy, Boon-Chye Lee
Competition And Innovation: Small And Medium Enterprises In The New Economy, Boon-Chye Lee
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
The advent of the "New Economy" has important implications for how small and medium-sized enterprises will compete. This. paper proceeds by examining the key characteristics of the industries of the New Economy, and what they mean from the perspectIve of innovation and competition for SMEs.
Humanistic Redesign And Technological Politics In Organizations, R. Badham, Karin Garrety, Christina Kirsch
Humanistic Redesign And Technological Politics In Organizations, R. Badham, Karin Garrety, Christina Kirsch
Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)
The political nature of technology design and implementation is explicitly addressed in human centered projects to introduce technologies that support job enrichment, group autonomy and industrial democracy. Yet the political meaning of such projects does not simply manifest itself in pure form from the methods employed or the intentions of the humanistic actors but, rather, from the complex configuration of these and other factors present in the design and implementation context. This paper illustrates this theme in an analysis of a case study human centered project. It argues that an improved understanding of the configurational politics surrounding such projects is …