Business Commons^™

Cbd Economic Enhancement Project : Final Report, Beth Walker, Beverley Webster, Anna Wildy

Research outputs pre 2011

The City of J oondalup engaged the Small & Medium Enterprise Research Centre at Edith Cowan University to review the activities of the business community in the Central Business District (CBD) in order to support the City's strategic development plan. This report provides data to inform the future strategic decisions for the City concerning how it will grow and develop its CBD. The project aimed to identify the key indicators of current economic activity within the CBD, which could then be used to assist in the development of a more targeted approach to continuous growth and development strategies for the …

On-Line Training For Smes: Final Report, Beth Walker, Beverley Webster, Sue Stoney

Research outputs pre 2011

This research aimed to explore the appropriateness of on-line training delivery methods for small business owner/managers.

It is widely recognised that training and education are effective ways to reduce small business failure. In Australia, small business accounts for 96 percent of Australian private sector, non-agricultural businesses and they employ 47 percent of the private sector, non-agricultural workforce. Not surprisingly then, encouraging the development of the skills of the workforce has emerged as a major priority for government policy. However, what is also recognised is that many small business owner/managers (SBOs) have limited e-competencies.

Results of this research confirmed this and …

The Investigation Of The Processes Of Is/It Investment Evaluation And Benefits Realization In B2b-Ec Organisations, Chad Lin, Craig Standing

Research outputs pre 2011

ISIIT investments in B2B-EC are used by organizations, as part of their business strategies, to assist in the inter-organization acquisition of goods into the value chain and to provide interfaces between customers, vendors, suppliers and sellers. However, the issue of expected and actual benefits realized from ISIIT investments in B2B-EC has generated a significant amount of debote in the ISIIT literature amongst researchers and practitioners. This research study showed that organizational satisfaction of B2BEC usage had a direct relationship with the adoption of the ISIIT investment evaluation methodology. There was also a tendency for organizations to evaluate less when their …

Developing A Framework Of Training For The Older Small Business Owner : Final Report, Beth Walker, Beverley Webster, Julia Turner

Research outputs pre 2011

This study was conducted as a result of the critical issue of the ageing population and the implications this will have on the workforce. An employment option for older workers is to become self-employed and to start their own small businesses, rather than to continue working in mainstream employment, which becomes increasing difficult as employees age. The option of self-employment may be a viable option for older people as uncertainty of employment tenure in mainstream employment continues to increases over time and is a way to utilise work skills and competencies that have been acquired over years of work experience. …

A Capabilities Analysis Of E-Fulfilment Businesses: Transformation In The Logistics Industry, Janice Burn, Paul Alexander

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper reports on the evaluation of practices of 48 leading e-fulfillment suppliers in the UK. Initial findings suggest that while a comprehensive model of e-fulfilment is validated these organisations are also providing services not previously recognised as e-fulfilment capabilities by the literature. This leads to the development of a staged model of transformation, which implies that the industry will embrace radical change in some sectors and lead to a new definition of e-fulfillment businesses. More in depth investigation leads to a proposed definition, and a methodology to measure the degree of transformation.

Exploring The Use Of Guided Interviews As A Research Tool In A Doctoral Study Of Safe Work Practices Of Young Construction Workers, Susanne Bahn

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper uses the research processes of a doctoral study that investigates young workers learning safe practices within the housing construction industry to explore the use of guided interviews with artefacts as an ethnographic technique to gather qualitative data. The paper identifies how this specifically vulnerable group are subject to the 'Cycle of Abuse'. The complications of gathering accurate data from the 15-19 age group in this industry are discussed, including dealing with low literacy levels, defensive trainers, power of access and high emotions. The paper reviews the use of images within guided interviews and provides a conceptual model. The …

Bridging The Digital Divide With Community Portal Regional E-Marketplaces For Smes: The Need For An Integrated Approach, Denise Gengatharen, Craig Standing

Research outputs pre 2011

In the late 19908 it was perceived that a digital divide existed in Australia between regional/rural and metropolitan areas and between small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their larger counterparts. In response, a number of regional community portals and e-marketplaces for SMEs were funded at the federal, state and local government levels. These initiatives were driven by the hope that they would lead to increased online activity and eventually promote regional economic development. A number of these portals and regional e-marketplaces (REMs) are no longer in existence. Of those that remain, some continue to battle with inadequate funding while trying …

The Effectiveness Of Sme Websites In A Buiness To Business Context, Rosemary Stockdale, Chad Lin, Susan Stoney

Research outputs pre 2011

This research analyses the effectiveness of SME business to business websites from a user perspective. An established evaluation instrument (eQual) is used to assess 80 websites in terms of usability, information quality, and interaction and service. The analysis shows that although a significant number of sites reflect little understanding of the attributes of good design or potential benefits to be gained from websites, there are examples of competent and effective website use.

Diffusion Of Innovation - The Adoption Of E-Commerce By Small To Medium Enterprises (Sme's) - A Comparative Analysis, Wayne Pease, Michelle Rowe

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper explores the issues that influence the diffusion of innovation as it relates to the adoption of e-commerce by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). It seeks to identify factors facilitating and inhibiting such adoption across contexts – regional, small city and large city. This analysis is cross cultural so the impact of differing economic and cultural issues also will be identified in this research. Whilst it is generally accepted that the strategic use of information technology (IT) is vital in the marketplace, the rate of such uptake between small and large businesses varies. This research seeks to identify the …

2005 Survey Report On The Wellbeing Of The Professions: Policing, Nursing And Teaching, Institute For The Service Professions, Edith Cowan University

Research outputs pre 2011

This report assesses the wellbeing of the professions of policing, nursing and teaching in Western Australia. The findings are derived from surveys of how individuals think about their occupations, their colleagues and employers. The level of wellbeing affects the ease of attracting and retaining staff and the quality of delivered services.

We present and discuss summary results of responses to questionnaires sent in 2005 to 5,180 police, 6,000 nurses and 9,000 teachers. Each of the professions is here regarded as a single group. The number of respondents is sufficient to allow many more detailed analyses to be performed and reported …