Food Hubs in Australia : Benefits, challenges and potential ICT contributions
- Authors: Kurnia, Sherah , Hill, Serenity , Rahim, Mahbubur , Larsen, Kirsten , Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 19th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems, PACIS 2015
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Food Hubs have been developed to promote sustainability practices in managing regional distribution of fresh produce in a number of countries including the United States and Australia. They have the potential to support the resilience and sustainability of regional food supply chains by improving the local economy, environmental condition, and community well-being. However, despite the potential benefits, Food Hubs face many challenges that threaten their long-term survival. Currently, limited research has been conducted to investigate benefits and challenges of Food Hubs and how Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which is known as one of the key enablers to facilitate sustainable practices, can help address the challenges. In this research-in-progress paper, we present preliminary findings from an on-going research project that seeks to explore benefits and challenges experienced by Australian Food Hubs and the role of ICT in supporting their operations and growth. Our study enhances the understanding of the contributions of Food Hubs to sustainability and the roles of ICT in supporting sustainability practices.
A skilling framework for women entrepreneurs in the knowledge economy
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Contemporary issues in entrepreneurship research p. 35-54
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
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
- Reviewed:
- 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.
Advancing women in the digital economy : eLearning opportunities for meta-competency skilling
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Risk Assessment and Management in Pervasive Computing: Operational, Legal, Ethical, and Financial Perspectives Chapter p. 298-310
- Full Text: false
- Description: In view of the fact that women are playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, this chapter examines business skilling in the digital economy for women in general and women-led small businesses in Australia, in particular. With employability and entrepreneurial capacity of women increasing, so too is their need for a comprehensive skill set is increasing. It is proposed that business courses currently offered do not necessarily consider their target audience or include new economy considerations. This chapter discusses the need for meta-competencies that will allow women in both developed and emerging economies to operate more effectively in a changing work environment and an increasingly digital business environment. For meta-competency efficacy, it is further proposed that evidence-based learning models, gender-sensitive approaches to business learning, and collaborative uses of technology underpin content and (e-)business learning designs.
- Description: 2003007231
Business skilling for a digital economy
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Risk Assessment and Management in Pervasive Computing: Operational, legal, Ethical and Financial p. 350-361
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
Connecting small business networks: Linking communities of practice with innovation
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Encyclopedia of communities of practice in information and knowledge management p. 348-354
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
SME policy development in a global economy : An Australian perspective
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The Policy Environment for the Development of SMEs Chapter 10 p. Sep-26
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have long been recognised as important to the economy in terms of their considerable contribution to GDP and employment creation and , as such, have been a priority agenda item for APEC since the 1993 Leaders' meeting in Seattle (Hall 1995.) During the last decade, the rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the related rise of service sector industries have significantly altered the course of industry and SME policy from a protectionist approach to a culture favourable to entrepreneurship. In particular, policy makers have been looking at what actions should be taken to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation by SMEs in an increasely connected and global business environment (Audretch and Thurik, 2001).
- Description: B1
- Description: 2003005510
Action research methods
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Encyclopedia of Developing Regional Communities with Information and Communication Technology p. 1-5
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: To date, most research into the implications of the Internet for SMEs has focused on individual business barriers to ICT and e-commerce adoption. Such research has shown that SMEs tend to be time- and resource-poor, with their size being their main disadvantage vis-à-vis ICT adoption (OECD, 2000; Van Beveren & Thompson, 2002). Perhaps the question is not whether small firms have adopted ICT, but rather where are small firms in terms of their ICT adoption. ICT encompasses a series of separate yet interrelated components; for example, electronic mail (e-mail), the Internet, the Web, and e-commerce, which can be adopted in a variety of social and business settings. Hence, it is suggested that ICT cannot be considered as a single technological innovation but rather as a series of (process) innovations, potentially resulting in variable ICT adoption patterns (Walczuch, Van Braven, & Lundgren, 2000).
E-commerce and small tourism firms
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Encyclopedia of Developing Regional Communities with Information and Communication Technology p. 233-238
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Today’s networked economy is a strategic combination of many factors, with electronic platforms and relationships underpinning competitive advantage. Enabled and driven by information and communication technologies (ICT) and connectivity, the networked economy is challenging the fundamental bases of established government frameworks, conventional business practices, and traditional marketing disciplines. To achieve business success in this techno-economic paradigm requires new ways of thinking for all.
Linking small business networks with innovation
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Encyclopedia of Communities of Practice in Information and Knowledge Management p. 346-352
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Today, with an economy enabled and driven by connectivity, a fundamental shift in business models is occurring whereby information, knowledge, and relationships underpin competitive advantage. In order to compete in what some refer to as the networked economy, companies across the globe must use technology-mediated channels, create internal and external value, formulate technology convergent strategies, and organize resources around knowledge and relationships (Scott & Storper, 2003). The rise of information and communication technologies (ICT) and electronic information networks has led firms of all sizes to implement more technology driven solutions for improved productivity and information flow. Malhotra (2000) identified three general information management (IM) developments that have revolutionized company information processes over the last 40 years. The first phase, the automation phase, increased company efficiency of operations. The second phase, the rationalization phase, streamlined those procedures by eliminating bottlenecks made apparent by the automation. The third phase, the business reengineering phase, radically redesigned information and knowledge management processes through technology-intensive implementation of procedures in workflows and work processes (Malhotra, 2000). Now we have reached a fourth phase, the knowledge creation and knowledge transfer phase, that, if possible, is even more closely associated with technology than business process reengineering. With embedded knowledge flows and innovation linked to communities of practice as well as through linkages using technology, companies of all sizes have the potential to both collaborate and compete by taking advantage of connectivity and new relationships founded on the exchange and sharing of embedded knowledge. This article discusses how knowledge sharing environments such as communities of practice and virtual business communities can be important determinants of commercial viability and business success for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), provided that both the (virtual) environment and inter-firm relationships are conducive to information sharing and knowledge flows.
Beyond clusters : Current practices & future strategies
- Authors: Lowe, Julian , Braun, Patrice , McRae-Williams, Pamela
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text: false
- Description: "These conference proceedings document the research of participants and include topics specific to clusters, networks, regional development, information and communication technologies, and competitiveness." -- Preface.
Integrating action research methods : Contextual components and constructive choices
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Acadamy of Management 2005 Annual Meeting: A New Vision of May Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii : 5th -10th August, 2005
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001219
Localisation and regionalisation of skills augmentation : The case of Australian tourism SME
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , Hollick, Mary
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the APEC Seminar On Best Practices for Mentoring Systems: Keys to Reducing APEC SME Loans Default, Bangkok, Thailland : 18th -19th July, 2005
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001220
Small business clustering : The benefits of local network learning
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , McRae-Williams, Pamela , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the APEC Symposium on SME Clustering, Taiwan : 8th March - 10th, 2005
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001221
Creating actionable knowledge on the periphery
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Academy of Management Conference, New Orleans, USA : 5th August, 2004
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000783
.comUnity : ICT innovation in a regional Tourism Network
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2003 Sustainable Economic Growth in Regional Australia (SEGRA) Conference, Brisbane : 14th - 17th September, 2003
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000572
E-commerce in the networked economy: The case of Australian tourism firms
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The E-Business Review Vol. 3, no. (2003), p. 7-10
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000611
SME networks : Clustering for regional innovation purposes
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the SEAANZ 16th Conference, Ballarat, Australia : 28th September - October 1st, 2003
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000573
SME networks and innovation : Knowledge creation in small firms
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 11th Annual High Technology Small Firms Conference, Manchester, UK : 12th -13th June, 2003
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000577
Building a digital business network : ICT partnering in regional Australia
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the Electronic Networking 2002 - Building Community Conference, Melbourne : 3rd - 5th July, 2002
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000253