UNSW Canberra School of Business sharing research for business excellence

The School of Business’ new and innovative research will be on full display this month at the upcoming Research Showcase.

“Our School of Business researchers work on a surprisingly diverse range of research topics and make important contributions on issues from leadership and capability, policy development and implementation; to the NDIS, biodiversity management, sports doping, workplace mental health, supply chain and logistics, palliative care, defence, and much more. There is something here to interest everyone and we look forward to sharing highlights at the Research Showcase,” Public Service Research Group Director Associate Professor Sharron O’Neill said.

The School of Business Research Showcase will take place on Thursday 27 October at the National Museum of Australia. Registrations are required and are open until Thursday 20 October.

The Research Showcase is a unique opportunity to meet and network with the researchers leading these projects. Here is a snippet of some of the research that will be on display.

Demonstrating the hidden value in complex work environments

Professor Deborah Blackman, Dr Sophie Yates and Dr Jeremiah Brown are bringing to the forefront the hidden value in complex dynamic public service systems.

The researchers are unpacking how people in certain types of roles understand the value they bring and how that value is demonstrated to others.

Professor Deborah Blackman said that “looking for hidden value shifts mindsets away from trying to measure and control value, and helps work towards shaping and influencing others in the system to achieve overall system purpose.”

Providing greater support for disability support workers

Professor Helen Dickinson and researchers from the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, RMIT University and Monash University are exploring why the COVID-19 vaccine uptake was low amongst disability support workers, and what support can be provided for these workers.

“Recent policy reform has led to a gradual erosion of employment terms and conditions for disability support workers,” Professor Dickinson said.

“We found higher levels of vaccine hesitancy in the disability support workers than we would expect from the literature. Many of the reasons behind this is related to a lack of trust in the government and a feeling that this employment group have been ignored by government in the emergency response,” she said.

Improving the effectiveness of flexible working

Dr Fiona Buick and a team of Public Service Research Group researchers are looking at how to optimise the effectiveness of flexible working arrangements within the ACT Public Service System.

“The effectiveness of flexible working requires more concerted management development to ensure managers have the knowledge, skills and support to manage their teams (and flexible working arrangements) effectively and in a way that achieves desired outcomes,” Dr Buick said.

“Optimising the effectiveness of flexible working requires organisations to adopt an outcomes orientation, focusing on results rather than when and where employees work.”

Adapting risk management to evolve with the changing digital world

Associate Professor Oman Hussain’s research provides tools and techniques to ensure businesses can manage risk for desired outcome success as the world continues to evolve.

“The risk management process must constantly evolve to best achieve its aims. If humans and machines work well together, significant performance improvements will be experienced. My research focuses on how risk management can be tailored to the changing landscape for its benefits to be reaped in the digital world,” Associate Professor Hussain said.

Meet these researchers and more UNSW Canberra experts by attending the School of Business Research Showcase on Thursday 27 October. Registrations are required and are open until Thursday 20 October.