This study describes an action research program, primarily within one company pursuing learning organisation concepts. The research was an integral part of the implication process, not involving case studies carried out after the event, or analysis prior to it, but an iterative mixture of...

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are constantly confronting formidable and competitive challenges. In their midst, to stay abreast of larger firms or international markets, a small number is still able to insulate themselves from the pervasive effects of competition, technology advancement...

This paper presents an aspect of ongoing research into the management of innovation as a business system, recognizing that people are an important element of the total system that includes decision and knowledge subsystems. The word ?intuition? is often used in connection with innovators and...

In March 2006 the Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales utilised that state?s equal remuneration principle to address the gender undervaluation of childcare work. In doing so the Full Bench explicitly rejected employer arguments that increased rates of pay for...

As small films have limited resources, they cannot out-muscle larger competitors, so they have to do something different - be innovative and leverage know-how and collaborate with others to increase the scale and scope of what they can offer to be globally competitive. This paper describes an...

This paper shares experiences from action research carried out by the author in an SME business setting where collaboration is becoming a strategic necessity. Many industry participants are interested in entering a collaboration, but are concerned about issues of trust, particularly where a new...

According to the Howard government and some 'small business' organisations, the changes made to Australian industrial relations arrangements by the 2005 'Work Choices' Act will be of particular importance to small and medium sized establishments (SMEs). Specifically, the dilution of the...

Academic and other research has consistently shown that the work of child care workers has historically been undervalued due to its feminised nature, its charitable origins and a low rate of unionisation. However employer submissions to wage fixing tribunals have both challenged a higher...

Since the 1970s Australia has been one of the few countries that has progressively advanced the concept of gender pay equity. This achievement has largely been due the centralised, industrial tribunal-based, wage fixing system. The wage rates created by industrial tribunals have been able to...

This paper aims to identify key elements of innovative culture using innovation audit tools. The research seeks to determine if factors such as the ability to collaborate are important in building a culture that supports innovation. Many firms are continually scanning the environment for sources...