Hidden treasure : Unearthing aspirations and mobilising skills in a neighbourhood renewal context
- Authors: Thompson, Helen , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at International Conference on Engaging Communties, Brisbane :
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- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001125
The need for an integrated theoretical framework for researching the influence of group diversity on performance
- Authors: Qin, John , O'Meara, Bernard , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Management Research News Vol. 32, no. 8 (2009), p. 739-750
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- Description: Purpose - Investigating diversity presents researchers with a paradox because extremely inconsistent and conflicting findings about the effects of diversity have emerged in this field of study. It has been argued that the theoretical frameworks used have contributed to the paradox. Different and contradictory effects concerning the influence of group diversity can be predicted using these frameworks. The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of the main theoretical frameworks in the context of researching diversity. Design/methodology/approach - The focus of this paper is a critical examination of three theoretical frameworks in the field of diversity research - similarity-attraction theory, social categorization theory and the information/decision-making approach. These are commonly applied in researching diversity. The basic elements of each theory, its applications in diversity research and its strengths and limitations are considered. Findings - The discussion suggests that the paradox in diversity research emerges from a research tradition that views the three frameworks as being best applied separately because each framework predicts different and even contradictory outcomes. These differences are a consequence of distinctive theoretical operations. In addition, the strengths and limitations associated with each theoretical framework suggest that they might be integrated and subsequently applied in specific settings according to their respective strengths and limitations. Research limitations/implications - In order to produce more consistent results in research on diversity, it is suggested that future researchers should not rely solely on a single theoretical framework to predict the effects of diversity. In particular, different theoretical frameworks may work well with certain types of diversity as well as certain levels of analysis. Originality/value - The paper provides a framework for dissecting the diversity paradox and a foundation for designing fresh approaches that might produce findings that are more consistent. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Description: 2003007365
The measurement of trust in inter-organisational networks : A conceptual framework and research design
- Authors: Reed, Ken , McEachern, Steven , Blunsdon, Betsy , McNeil, Nicola
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 17th Annual Conference of ANZAM, Perth : 2nd - 5th December, 2003
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- Description: The aim of this paper is to outline a conceptual model and research design for measuring trust in inter-organisational networks which has the potential to be a ‘blueprint’ for a large-scale, multilevel study of trust in networks. Inter-organisational networks are increasingly recognised as a means to achieve economic and social exchange yet, how these networks operate is less widely understood. Trust is widely identified as being essential to the functioning of networks forms of organisation. In order to analyse trust in networks the Social Relations Model (Kenny 1994) of interpersonal perception is applied here. Insights from this model are used to specify relevant components of trust; and extended by incorporating measures of trust at the level of the work group.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000580
Building innovation capacity: The role of human capital formation in enterprises
- Authors: Smith, Andy , Courvisanos, Jerry , McEachern, Steven , Tuck, Jacqueline
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: AVETRA 13th Annual Conference
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- Description: This paper describes a project which seeks to identify the role of human capital formation in promoting innovation in Australian enterprises and the ways in which enterprises can improve their human resource management and learning and development practices to improve their innovation performance. There are a number of factors that affect enterprises' ability to innovate. These include internal factors such as the ability to detect technological changes in the environment, the development of core competencies from which innovation can developl and external factors such as the maturity of the market which the enterprise serves and the impact of government policy to stimulate innovation. Thus the ability of enterprises to innovate depends on the effective management of human resources and in particular, the learning and development practices that enable enterprises to increase the skills of workers to innovate (human capital formation). Studies in Denmark and Spain have shown that better
Managing community relationships and corporate reputation - A stakeholder perspective
- Authors: Tuck, Jacqueline , Lowe, Julian , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at International Mine Management 2006, Carlton, Victoria : 16th October, 2006 p. 305-313
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- Description: This paper reports on an ongoing research program to evaluate the impact a mining company's reputation(s), with its various stakeholder groups, has on a company's ability to sustain competitive advantage. Integral to this study is to develop an understanding of the relationships between mining companies and their stakeholders, and the importance of corporate citizenship policies to reputation and hence to corporate sustainability.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001814
Workforce planning at Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV) 2005-2015
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , McEachern, Steven , Lynch, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text: false
- Description: Explored current staffing at RAV, modeled the organisation's staffing needs over the next decade and presented a workforce planning approach to support RAV to meet these needs
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002465
Integrating public domain data to construct community profiles
- Authors: Reed, Ken , Blunsdon, Betsy , McNeil, Nicola , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IASSIST Quarterly Vol. 27, no. 1 (2003), p. 5-10
- Full Text: false
- Description: 2003004625
How do communities respond to reduced water supply? The relationship between climate change and social change in regional Victoria
- Authors: McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Climate change in regional Australia : Social learning and adaption Chapter 17 p. 324-341
- Full Text: false
- Description: 2003007876
Data infrastructure for evidence-based local government policy analysis
- Authors: Reed, Ken , Blunsdon, Betsy , McEachern, Steven , McNeil, Nicola
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 17th Annual Conference of the ANZAM, Perth : 2nd - 5th December, 2003
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- Description: This paper outlines an approach for collecting and integrating data useful for evidence based planning and decision making in the not-for-profit sector, in particular for local government policy and planning. Given the methodological advances in multi-level analysis and the nature of rigorous policy analysis, leading academics and practitioners are advocating that policy driven research to be undertaken at a number of levels of analysis. Recent years have brought an explosion of public domain data in many aspects of social, economic and cultural aspects of society (cites and examples) and with this comes the opportunity, as outlined here, to integrate relevant public domain data in order to construct community profiles for local government areas in Victoria.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000586
Teaching organisational theory in undergraduate management programmes : An exercise in facilitated theory testing for active experimentation
- Authors: McEachern, Steven , Blunsdon, Betsy , Reed, Ken , McNeil, Nicola
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Further and Higher Education Vol. 27 , no. 1 (2003), p. 3-14
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- Description: This paper argues that there is an opportunity to improve the way that social science theory is taught by introducing an exercise in facilitated theory testing through active experimentation. This paper describes a learning experience that enables students to discover the dynamic nature of theoretical discoveries. This idea is grounded in the notion that students will gain much from learning about and testing theory experientially using real world data. A data based exercise is outlined and illustrated to reveal a learning experience that provides an opportunity to improve the way social science is taught by linking theory to empirical data. We argue that this provides an opportunity to offer a more holistic learning experience for theory teaching. The paper will be of special interest to those teaching theory in management, commerce, business and organisational studies courses. It will also be of interest to a more general audience because it provides a framework that can be modified whenever forging a connection between theory and ‘the real world’ is a primary learning objective.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000605
Building the capacity to innovate: The role of human capital
- Authors: Smith, Andy , Courvisanos, Jerry , Tuck, Jacqueline , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Technical report
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Climate change and regional communities: Towards sustainable community behaviour in Ballarat
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Regional Studies Vol. 16, no. 1 (2010), p. 3-22
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This paper presents the findings of two surveys conducted on behalf of BREAZE, a Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions community group in the Ballarat region. The research presented in this study was designed to identify the group's effectiveness in supporting its members to achieve zero emissions. Another objective of the research was to identify the knowledge and information needs of the broader Ballarat community in relation to climate change and sustainable behaviours. Survey findings indicate that both BREAZE and wider Ballarat community members are looking for means to reduce their barriers to adoption of pro-environmental choices. Key results also indicate that the Ballarat community has some desire and intention to change their behaviour. There was considerable interest and demand for high quality, clear, in-depth information and working examples on which individuals can base their choices and purchase decisions. The paper concludes with a discussion on future actions to engage the wider community towards more sustainable behaviour.
Experiential learning in social science theory : An investigation of the relationship between student enjoyment and learning
- Authors: McEachern, Steven , Blunsdon, Betsy , Reed, Ken , McNeil, Nicola
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Higher Education Research & Development Vol. 22, no. 1 (2003), p. 43-56
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- Description: This paper provides an analysis of student experiences of an approach to teaching theory that integrates the teaching of theory and data analysis. The argument that supports this approach is that theory is most effectively taught by using empirical data in order to generate and test propositions and hypotheses, thereby emphasising the dialectic relationship between theory and data through experiential learning. Bachelor of Commerce students in two second-year substantive organisational theory subjects were introduced to this method of learning at a large, multi-campus Australian university. In this paper, we present a model that posits a relationship between students’ perceptions of their learning, the enjoyment of the experience and expected future outcomes.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000604
Social impacts of water restrictions : Householders in the Ballarat water supply system
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Lynch, David , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Water Down Under Conference 2008, Adelaide, South Australia : 14th-17th April 2008 p. 2028-2041
- Full Text: false
- Description: In this paper, researchers investigate the social impact of water restrictions on households in the Ballarat and District Water Supply System. They present a general framework for evaluating the social impact of water restrictions which centres on perceptions of economic circumstances, health and well-being and community character and cohesion. Using qualitative and quantitative research methods, researchers confirm that existing water restrictions are indeed having an impact, although the extent of that impact varies along key dimensions. Researchers also identify underlying drivers of attitudes towards water restrictions, namely the direct impact of water restrictions on the household, and beliefs regarding the equitable application of restrictions across the community. The research findings are significant at a number of levels. At the local level, they provide water resource practitioners and policy makers with systematic data on which to base future water resource decisions and the communication messages and support strategies that accompany such decisions. More broadly, the findings shed light on an issue of critical national importance and they contribute to our theoretical knowledge of its impacts and complexities, and strategies for measurement.
- Description: 2003006302
Rhetoric and reality: Reflections on experience in the diffusion of ICT-based community projects in disadvantaged communities
- Authors: Thompson, Helen , McEachern, Steven , MacLeod, Andrew
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Information, communication and society (ICS) 10th anniversary international symposium
- Full Text: false
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Building innovation capacity: The role of human capital formation in enterprise
- Authors: Smith, Andy , Courvisanos, Jerry , Tuck, Jacqueline , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Fostering enterprise :The innovation and skills nexus - research readings p. 103-115
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Summary: The main impetus for the interest in innovation is that it is seen to improve productivity at the firm level and therefore improved economic prosperity and living standards. This edited volume was commissioned by the Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations. The authors contribute a variety of views on innovation from different perspectives. Some of the main themes running throughout the book are reasons for firms innovating, the skills required for innovation and how innovation and skills development is supported by the training system, the firm and government. Innovation is seen as moving beyond research and development, to include new products, services and operational/organisational processes.
The frustrated career : Casual employment in higher education
- Authors: Gottschalk, Lorene , McEachern, Steven
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Universities Review Vol. 52, no. 1 (2010), p. 37-50
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- Description: The use of casual staff, including casual teaching staff, is a common practice in Australian universities and the numbers of casual staff in the sector has increased significantly in the last decade. The traditional profile for casual teachers was that of industry expert and students. Recent research has shown that the casual teacher is now more likely to be a person holding several casual jobs and seeking a career. Likewise, general staff in casual positions are often people who would prefer job security and a career. This research was conducted at a regional Australian university and used a questionnaire targeting staff in both the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and higher education divisions in all occupational groups as well as in depth interviews of casual teaching staff. The findings show that the traditional profile no longer applies. Staff employed in casual positions often hold more than one job, at more than one institution and are seeking job security. They frequently, but unsuccessfully use casual work as a career strategy. The result is frustrated careers. [Author abstract]
- Description: 2003008238
Management practices and innovation capacity in enterprises
- Authors: Smith, Andy , Courvisanos, Jerry , McEachern, Steven , Tuck, Jacqueline
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at AVETRA, Research in VET: Janus- Reflecting back, projecting forward Vol. 2011, p. 1-14
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- Description: This paper reports on a project which seeks to identify the role of human capital formation in promoting innovation in Australian enterprises and the ways in which enterprises can improve their human resource management and learning and development practices to improve their innovation performance. There are a number of factors that affect enterprises' ability to innovate. These include internal factors such as the ability to detect technological changes in the environment, the development of core competencies from which innovation can develop and external factors such as the maturity of the market which the enterprise serves and the impact of government policy to stimulate innovation. A range of studies have suggested that human factors within the enterprise are critical to innovation. However, these studies have not established exactly what practices enterprises need to put in place to improve their 'innovation capacity'. This paper reports the results from the research. The research method involved a survey of over 2,500 business enterprises and seven case studies drawn from the manufacturing, [information and communication technology] ICT and finance industries. The paper will discuss the major findings from the research.
- Description: 2003008977
Hindmarsh shire community attitudes and aspirations : Perceptions of the Wimmera Mallee pipeline : WIDCORP
- Authors: McEachern, Steven , Lynch, David , McRae-Williams, Pamela
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text:
- Description: WIDCORP rural community community survey
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002444