Knowledge@Australian School of Business

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Knowledge@Australian School of Business episodes

May 02, 2019 The Smart Phone Turn Off: When the Boss's Call is a Barbeque-stopper
Managers are role models for smart phone use – and new research from the
Australian School of Business shows always-on cultures are hampering
productivity, effectively turning workers into "human pinballs" as they
bounce from one distraction to the next with no time to think. Setting a
poor example for technology use can send employees down the fast path
to burnout, with ambitious staffers particularly at risk of
over-engagement. While some individuals are turning off communication
devices or leaving them in the office, switched-on organisations are
pre-emptively tackling the issue.
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May 02, 2019 Strategic Thinking: How to Zoom in on the Big Picture
Executives and managers confront a barrage of distractions from the big
picture. As the speed of change and communication in global business
generates incessant opportunities and threats, a clear corporate
strategy is more vital for long-term business success than ever. Smart
organisations know where they are heading and why. Some even divest
profitable operations just to stick to their plans. Doug Stace, a
strategy expert at the Australian School of Business, highlights why
strategy must be a day-to-day concern and not only an annual planning
event.
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May 02, 2019 Age Diversity at Work: Talking 'Bout My Generation
There's no training manual for how to manage multigenerational
workforces. Yet a new study from the Australian School of Business
covering four generational cohorts in five countries shows significant
differences in work values exist between age groups. Members of
Generation Y may be technologically adept, but their focus on leisure
strongly conflicts with Traditionalists' and Baby Boomers' hard-work
ethics. Adaptability is required all round. Some companies are actually
leveraging generational differences. And when initiatives are designed
to appeal to the "work-is-not-my-life" young ones, often more seasoned
colleagues also opt to get with the program.
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May 02, 2019 Not-For-Profit Volunteers: Selfless or Selfish?
Not-for-profit organisations often thrive on the strength of volunteers
so understanding what drives people to give time and effort free of
charge is vital. Typically, volunteering is considered a selfless,
empathetic activity, but quite often the "me" factor is at play. A new
study from the Australian School of Business shows the motivations of
volunteers vary greatly between age groups and indicates the need for
not-for-profits (NFPs) to profile their volunteer bases to understand
where gaps exist. Self-interested volunteers can work well, as long as
the NFP knows how to wrangle them.
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May 01, 2019 VIDEO - New Order: Tim Steele on the Future of Financial Planning
The
collapse of a number of financial planning firms in recent years has dented
consumer confidence in financial advisers, but changes are afoot. The
government has tackled conflicts of interest with its Future of Financial
Advice reforms and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission has
proposed a national exam as an industry qualification. Moves to lift
educational requirements for financial planners had already been signalled by
the industry. This year, the Australian School of Business (ASB) commenced
degree courses in financial planning and has responded to an approach from Tim
Steele, director of AMP's Horizons Academy, which trains and licenses that
company's financial planners. Under a new agreement, eligible graduates from
AMP's Horizons program will be able to gain academic credit towards further
study at the ASB. Steele recently spoke with Knowledge@Australian School of
Business.
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May 01, 2019 Change Management: How to Tame the Mature-Age Stampede?
When a quarter of your workforce is heading for the door, it's time for
some serious strategic thinking. One Australian organisation is tackling
the outflow of thousands of mature-age workers by 2015 with a series of
policy changes and initiatives that not only glean vital information
for the employer, but also improve the prospects for wannabe retirees.
However, a one-size-fits-all policy approach will not be effective in
all cases, warn researchers from the Australian School of Business. And
collecting data on the intentions of a growing number of mature-age
workers and their effect on the workplace is proving complicated.
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May 01, 2019 Knowledge@ASB: Securency: Lifting the Lid on Grey Money
A new inquiry into the activities of Australia's central bank subsidiary, Securency, has brought the prevalence of bribery in international business dealings back into the spotlight. Demands for "grey money" are commonplace when negotiating deals in many developing nations. While multinational boards may place a high emphasis on ethics, often it's their people on the ground who are left with the risky business of tackling the grey areas to get deals over the line. It's time for a public airing of this cross-cultural no-go zone, says international management professor Andrew Kakabadse. Major global third sector organisations, including the United Nations, need to open the debate so corporate board members can take their heads out of the sand.
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May 01, 2019 European Disunity: The High Cost of Not Being in the Zone
Is the end really near for the euro zone as in-fighting escalates among
European leaders over strategies to bail out debt-stricken economies and
strengthen the banking system? Should Greece default on its debts and
quit the European Monetary Union to contain political and social unrest,
the contagion effect looks set to be global. Those who believe the
Greeks should be left to go it alone fail to understand the wider
punishing effects, warns Wolfgang Buehler, a professor at the Australian
School of Business who has extensively analysed the crisis. While the
fallout may be dire for European unity and international trade, in its
bitter lessons are clues for a better way forward.
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May 01, 2019 Knowledge@ASB: Workforce Flexibility
The global financial crisis delivered new opportunities to re-engineer the workforce with an increased focus on flexibility for both employers and employees. But dangers lurk in the short-term cost-cutting approach embraced by many organisations. The arrangements – and, in some cases, the companies – may not be sustainable. There’s a fine line between organisational agility achieved by varying head counts, and having the right in-house talent and capabilities. Employers need workforce models that can be scaled quickly to meet business demands.
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May 01, 2019 Simplified Personal Tax: Can Australians Be Trusted to Do the Right Thing?
As tax time looms, many Australians are gathering evidence of
deductible spending to file a personal income tax return post June 30,
with their hopes pinned on receiving even a small sum back. However, in
the UK and New Zealand,"wage slaves" and others with comparatively
simple tax affairs are spared the need to fill in a return at all.Ten
inquiries have looked into simplifying tax returns over the past two
decades, but Australia's policymakers have held back. Jason Kerr, a
researcher at the Australian School of Business, finds strong evidence
for a hybrid system that would entrust taxpayers to do the right thing.
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Knowledge@Australian School of Business episodes

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