College of Business

RMITbusinessresearch.com.au

Research Impact

Celebrating

Contents

Foreword 4

ProfessorGeoffreyStokes

News Shorts 5

Research Highlights 6

Research Features

Improvinggloballogisticsnetworks 7

Crackingdownonlabourhireexploitation 8

Caringforourcareworkers 10

Buildingbiomedicalinnovation,layerbylayer 11

RMIT’snewblockchaingangexploresopportunities 12

Improvingvisionboostsproductivityandwell-being: AVietnameseperspective 14

Gettingsmarterwithnewtechnologyconsumerrights 16

Economicsofaddiction 17

Restructuringthirdsectorthinking 18

Thebestofbothworlds:Balancingcreativityandcommercialism 19

Makingirrelevantconvictionshistory 20

Blazingatrailforinnovation 22

RestartingtheglobalITenvironment 24

Wearabletechnologyunlocksentrepreneurs’emotions 25

Goodqualityworkunderpinsgoodqualitycare 26

Research Overview 28

Acknowledgements: ProducedbytheBusinessResearchOffice,locatedon Level7,SwanstonAcademicBuilding, 445SwanstonStreet,Melbourne,Victoria

Questions and enquiries: business.research@rmit.edu.au

Credits: RyanWendtandHannahTribe

3

News ShortsForewordBOARDROOM DIVERSITY ResearchundertakenbyPhDcandidateShereneSmithindicatesalackofdiversityinAustraliancompanyboards,withnewmembersoftenselectedfromaclosecircleofacquaintances,andalackoffocusonrelevantqualificationsorexperience.AccordingtoSmiththisstrategyisproblematic,withboardmemberspreferringtoprotecttheirself-interestsbyconformingtothestatusquoofthegroupratherthanconsideringthebestinterestsofthecompanyanditsstakeholders.

HIGHLIGHTING ECONOMIC ABUSEResearchconductedbyPhDcandidateJozicaKutinisinvestigatingeconomicabuseinyoungAustralianadults.Accordingtotheirstudies,the18to29agegroupisoftenunlikelytoseekassistance,beingunabletoidentifyindicatorsofthisformofexploitation.Economicabuseoccurswhenonepartnerexertscontrolovertheother’saccesstofinances,assetsorfinancialdecision-makingability,andhasbeenfoundtoaffect15.7percentofwomenand7.1percentofmeninAustraliaduringtheirlifetimes.

RMIT LEGAL SPECIALIST WORKING WITH THE UNLawacademic,DrJonathanKolieb,hasbeenengagedasLegalSpecialistbytheUnitedNationsonaprojecttostrengtheninternationallegalprotectionsofchildrenaffectedbywar.Theshort-termaimoftheworkistoassisttheUNSpecialRepresentativeoftheSecretary-GeneralforChildrenandArmedConflicttoconstructivelyengagewiththe Inquiry on Protecting Children in Conflict. Going forward,thisworkwillinformthedesignofaUNstrategytoimprovetheimplementationoftheinternationallegalframeworksthatprotectchildreninarmedconflict,andshapetheapproachoftheUNsystemtowardsbetterimplementation.

THE CASE FOR PRISON LIBRARIESTheUSDepartmentofJusticehasbeenusingthefindingsofarecentRMITPhDgraduateasevidencetosupportamajorresearchprojectwhichseekstodemonstratehowprisonlibrariescontributetocorrectionaloutcomes.DrJaneGarner,whosePhDthesisisentitled The lived experience of Australian prison libraries: A phenomenological study,hasspokentotheDepartmentofJustice’sNationalInstituteofCorrectionsinWashingtonDCandpresentedanumberofwaysthatprisonlibrariescansupportprisoners,prisonstaff,andthebroadercommunity,whilealsoassistingprisonsinmeetingmanyoftheirdesiredoutcomes.

GLOBAL INNOVATION COLLABORATIONAteamledbytheDirectorofRMIT’s GlobalBusinessInnovationEnablingCapabilityPlatform(ECP),ProfessorAnne-LaureMention,andincludingcolleaguesfromRMITEurope,hassecured€2.5millioninEuropeanresearchsupportfunding.Named OpenInnoTrain,theprojectwilldevelopaninternationalandinter-sectoralnetworkofresearchersandindustrypractitionerscollaborativelyworkingonopeninnovation,university-industrycooperationandresearchtranslationpractices.Theprojectwillfacilitateknowledgedevelopmentandsharinginfourcontemporaryareas,FinTech,Industry4.0,CleanTech,FoodTech,andwillfund540monthsofscientificexchangesoverfouryears.

ItismypleasuretolaunchthebookletCelebrating Research Impact.

Thegrowthofknowledgeisoneofthecoregoalsofalluniversities.AtRMITUniversitytheacademicstaffarededicatedtoknowledgecreationthroughresearch,andknowledgedisseminationthroughindustryengagementandteaching.AmajorpriorityoftheCollegeofBusinessistoundertakeresearchincollaborationwithindustry.Forthisreason,thestaffproducehighqualitypublications,robustpolicyadvice,andcriticalanalysesonthemanychallengesconfrontingbusiness,government,andthecommunitysector.

Ourresearchinterestsextendacrosstheglobe.LeadingresearchersintheCollegeareinternationallyrecognisedandwidelypublishedintop-rankingjournals.Theybringtoindustrypartnershipstheirexpertisefromthedisciplinesofmanagement,law,accounting,digitalinformationandcommunications,informationmanagement,logisticsandsupplychainmanagement,marketing,economics,andfinance.

TheCollegehostsanumberofresearchcentres,groupsandclustersthataredistinguishedbytheircommitmenttoresearchexcellenceandlinkstoindustry.CollegeresearchersworkcloselywiththeUniversity'sunique,interdisciplinaryEnablingCapabilityPlatforms,particularlyGlobalBusinessInnovation,SocialChange,andUrbanFutures.Ourresearchfeedsdirectlyintohighqualitysupervisionofdoctoralcandidatesandtransformativelearningexperiencesforundergraduatestudents.Exposuretosupervisionandteachingthatisinformedbyresearchenablesourgraduatestobebetterpreparedfortheworldofwork.

TheCollegehasasuperblocationintheheartofMelbournethatenablesresearcherstoconnectdirectlywithawiderangeofbusiness,government,andsocialorganisations.Weinviteyoutolearnmoreaboutourresearchersandtheimpactstheyhavemade.Please getintouchifyouwouldliketoworkwithus.

Professor Geoffrey Stokes DeputyProVice-Chancellor, ResearchandInnovation

From the Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation

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Research Highlights

329

Sources: SciVal, Scopus Sources: SciVal, Scopus

5,013Scopus citations received by College researchers for the three year publication period, 2015-17

46%

186 Non-Scopus ERA eligible outputs

Scopus publications

Citations

Proportion of publications in top

quartile journals

Proportion of 2015-17 Scopus publications by College

researchers in the top 25 per cent of world journals

Sources: SciVal, Scopus

“43%

Percentage of College Scopus

publications featuring an international collaborator

Source: SciVal

343

50HDR completions

HDR enrolments

Source: ResearchMaster

Source: ResearchMaster

Outputs published in 2017

2017

2017

2018 YTD (October)18PhD Scopus publications

Source: SciVal

2018 YTD (October)

Chinaiscurrentlyundertakingoneofthelargesttradeandinfrastructureprojectsinthehistory

ofhumankind.KnownastheBeltandRoadInitiative(BRI),theventurehasalreadyledtoanoutlayofnearlyUS$1trillion–withUS$3-7trillionmoretocome–onbuildinganetworkofports,railways,bridges,gaspipelinesandroadsinabidtolinkthecountrywith71nationsinAsia,Africa,EuropeandOceania.

TheBRIaimstonotonlyimproveChina’sconnectivitybutalsoformnewtradepoliciesandeconomicstrategies,energisingresourcecooperationandengenderingbusinesspartnershipsintheprocess.

ProfessorPremChhetriisco-leadingtheReconfiguringEastAsianLogisticsNetworksundertheOne Belt, One Road EnvironmentprojecttounderstandthelikelychallengesassociatedwithemerginglogisticsnetworksinEastAsia.

“ThisprojectwillhelpleveragethecompetitivestrengthsofcompaniesinAsiabyengagingglobalthoughtleadersoncollectivelyharnessingBRIbusinesspotentialtocreatenewopportunitiesfortrade,investment,technologicalinnovationandmovementoflabour,”saysProfessorChhetri.

Theremovaloftradebarriers,transportationbottlenecksandincreasedsustainabledevelopmentareapotentialchallengeforEastAsia.Take,forexample,thetransportoflargewineconsignments.DistributionwithinAsiatypicallyinvolvesair,roadandwatertransport,however,onlycountrieswithexcellentmulti-modaltransportservicesarepositionedtobecomeelitewinegateways.

Asanintegralpartoftheproject,ProfessorChhetriandresearchersfromInhaUniversityinSouthKoreaandZhejiangUniversityinChinahaveevaluatedinternationalcitiesbasedonlogisticsinfrastructurecapacityandserviceresponsiveness.Theiraimistobetterunderstandhowthesecitiescopewithhighlevelsoftradingactivityacrossmultipletransportationmethods.

Thefindingsfromthisrecentresearchindicatetheprevalenceofamulti-tiersystemwhereinShanghaiandHongKongconstitutematuremarkets,setapartbytheirabilitytoundertakecomplexlogisticsprojectsonaglobalscale.Incontrast,Manila,JakartaandBangalorearemakingslowbutsteadyprogresstowardsimprovingtheirlogisticsinfrastructurecapacityandserviceresponsiveness,andDhaka,PhnomPenhandHoChiMinhCityrequirefurtherenhancement.

Asnextsteps,ProfessorChhetriandhisteamwillcollaboratewithinternationalagenciestoexaminetheglobalimpactandsignificanceoftheBRIoninfrastructuredevelopment,shiftintradepatternsandimprovementininternationallogistics.YoucancontinuetofollowProfessorChhetri’sdevelopmentsbyvisitingtheGlobalSupplyChainandLogisticswebsite:www.rmit.edu.au/about/our-education/academic-schools/business-it-and-logistics/research/global-supply-chain-and-logistics/research-projects

IMPROVING global logistics networks

Professor Prem ChhetriProfessor of Supply Chain and Logistics and Director of the Global Supply Chain and Logistics Research Priority Area in the School of Business IT and Logistics

Professor Prem Chhetri is leading a

project that focusses on the impacts

and consequences of China's

Belt and Road Initiative, which

is transforming Asia’s transport

and service infrastructure.

$3.9 MILLIONTotal research income

Source: ResearchMaster

Three year average, 2015-17

Source: SciVal

Field weighted citation impact Percentage above world average, 2015-17 three year average

31%

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9

Professor Anthony ForsythProfessor of Law in the Graduate School of Business and Law

CRACKING down on labour hire exploitation

In2015,reportsofunderpaidwagesandunfairtreatmentintheworkplacemadenewsheadlines

acrossAustralia.Storiesofdisreputeimplicatedseveralsectors,andthe7-Elevenunderpaymentscandalreceivedwidespreadmediacoverage. Withtheproblemexposed,theVictorianGovernmentcommittedtoacomprehensiveinquiryintothe labourhireindustry,promisingtouncoverthe extentoftheproblemandaddressexploitationofvulnerableworkers.

In2015ProfessorAnthonyForsythbecameindependentChairoftheVictorianGovernmentInquiryintotheLabour Hire Industry and Insecure Work,appointedtoexamineexploitationofvulnerableworkersintheVictorianlabourhiresectorandmakerecommendationsforimprovementsinthelaw.Duringhisinvestigations,hereceivedover700writtensubmissionsfromkeystakeholders,includingunions,workers,businessgroups,labourhirecompanies,communityorganisationsandacademics.HealsoheldsevenpublichearingsinbothregionalandurbanVictoriatolearnaboutindividualexperiences.

Thesehearingsunveiledmistreatmentincertainsectors,predominantlywithinhorticulture,meatandpoultryprocessingplants,andinthecleaningindustrywherecomplexcontractingchainsarecommon.“Theprovisionofworkersthroughthirdpartyproviders,suchaslabourhirecompaniesorcontractors,involvedmistreatmentusuallyintheunderpaymentofwages,”summarisesProfessorForsyth.Malpracticealsoincludedunsafeworkplaces,non-paymentofsuperannuation,cash-in-handwork,unlawfultax

arrangements,andsubstandardaccommodationlinkedtotheprovisionofruralworksuchasfruitpickingandwineproduction.

Inlightofthisevidence,andinconsiderationofstatisticaldata,academicliterature,andexistingAustralianandinternationalregulations,ProfessorForsythpresentedhisfindingstotheVictorianGovernmentandrecommendedtheestablishmentofalabourhirelicensingschemeinVictoria.“It’saboutkeepingalevelplayingfield,"hesays.“Aswellasbenefittingworkers,theproposedlicensingrequirementswillpreventbusinesseswithgoodintentionsfrombeingundercutbythosemoreinclinedtorippeopleoff.”

In2017,labourhirelicensinglegislationwaspassedinQueenslandandSouthAustraliafollowingParliamentaryinquiriesineachstate.HavingacceptedalmostallofProfessorForsyth’s35recommendations,theVictorianGovernmentintroducedtheLabourHireLicensingBillintoStateParliamentinlate2017.FollowingdebateinbothHouses,theBillwaspassedinJune2018.

ProfessorForsythconsidershisworkontheinquirytohavebeenveryrewarding.“Itisgoodforacademicstobeinvolvedinpolicydevelopment,toadaptourknowledgetorealsocialandeconomicproblems,andlendourexpertisetosolvethem.”ThenewlabourhirelicensinglawwillbeapositivestepinthefightagainstworkplaceexploitationinVictoria–andamodelforreformatthenationallevel.

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Doctor Fiona MacdonaldSenior Research Fellow at the Centre for People, Organisation and Work in the School of Management

Longerdays,lowerpay,increaseddiscriminationandgreaterrisks:thedailychallengesand

difficultworkingconditionsexperiencedbyAustralia’ssocialcareworkersarebeingcompoundedbyachangingnationalinfrastructure.

DrFionaMacdonaldisleadingaprogramofresearchinvestigatingtheimpactofAustralia’snewNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme(NDIS)–widelyregardedasthecountry’slargestsocialreformsinceMedicare–onthenatureofjobsandworkingconditionsforcareworkersinthe$22billionnationaldisabilitysector.

“MyresearchaddressesquestionscriticaltosocialandeconomicoutcomesarisingfromtheNDIS,includinghowtoimprovehealth,welfareandsocialcohesionforpeoplewithdisabilitywhileenhancingtheeffectivenessoforganisationsandensuringdisabilitysupportworkershavedecentjobs,”sheexplains.

Todate,DrMacdonaldhasmadeseveraldiscoveriesregardingNDIS’impactonthejobqualityofcareworkersandthequalityoftheirsupportandcareforpeoplewithdisability.Forexample,her2016researchintoNDIS’cash-for-careapproachfoundthemoveawayfrompayingcareorganisationsusingblock-fundingmaybeleadingthemtobecomemorecompetitive,flexibleandresponsive…butattheexpenseoftheirstaff.Workers–whoaremainlyfemale–areexperiencingmorefragmentedworkingtime,dwindlingworkconditionsandincreasedskillexpectationswithoutreceivingpropertraining.

TheNDISisalsoworseningissuescareworkershavefacedforalongtime.Forexample,homecareworkershavelongfoughtforproperremunerationoftraveltimeanddowntimebetweenappointments.DrMacdonald’smostrecentstudy,undertakenwithRMITcolleaguesMsEleanorBenthamandMsJennyMalone,showedthatthisbattleisfarfromover.UndertheNDIS,employersarenotpayingworkersforhoursspenttravellingtoorwaitingfortheirnextappointment.Thismeansthatworkersarebeingpaidbelowtheirminimumentitlements–insomecasesmissingoutonpayformultiplehoursofworkinasingleday.

DrMacdonaldhascommunicatedtheseresearchfindingstokeystakeholdersasaninvitedkeynotespeakeratseveralindustryevents,includingtheAustralianServicesUnionNationalDelegatesConference.Byinvitation,shehaspresentedherevidencetotheCommonwealthParliament’sJointStandingCommitteeontheNationalDisabilityInsuranceScheme.Additionally,herresearchreportsandrecommendationshaveprovidedtheevidencebaseforidentifyingpolicydirectionsata2017NDISWorkforceForuminCanberraattendedbyFederalOppositionfrontbenchers.

Lookingforward,DrMacdonaldhasseveralplanstoexpandherresearchintotheNDISworkforce,andsheiscurrentlycollaboratingwithcolleaguesattheCentreforFutureWorkattheAustraliaInstitutetoextendthepotentialforresearchimpact.

CARING for our care workers

MY RESEARCH ADDRESSES QUESTIONS

THAT ARE CRITICAL TO SOCIAL

AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES.”

“

Bynow,mostofuswillhaveheardof3Dprintinganditsalmostboundlesspotentialforapplication

invariousareasofourlives.Thisrevolutionarytechnologyisasubsetofadditivemanufacturing,andisnowthefocusofamajorprojectfundedbyRMITUniversity,lookingatitsroleasa‘disruptivetechnology’intheMedicalTechnology(MedTech)industry.

DrSamTavassoliispartofacollaborationbringingtogetherresearchersfromLundUniversityinSweden,andindustrypartnersStrykerandOMXSolutions,toinvestigatetheadoptionofadditivemanufacturinginthemedicaldevicesector.Inparticular,thestudyaimstoexplorehowitmightimpactupontheemergenceofentrepreneurialopportunities,predominantlyinrelationtoimplantsforthespine,hipsandotherjoints.

“Althoughthebiomedicalindustryhasgreatpotentialtobeinnovative,itishighlyregulatedandtechnologicallyuncertain.Tensionsalsoexistbetweenthevariousstakeholders,includingmanufacturers,regulatorybodies,insurersandsurgeons,whichfurtherimpedeinnovationsuchas3Dprintedtechnology.Thisresearchaimstounlockthepotentialofadditivemanufacturingapplicationsandhelpcompaniestoexploitthistechnology,”explainsDrTavassoli.

Additivemanufacturingofferstheadvantagesofaccuracyandaffordability,withproductsbuiltlayerbylayerthankstocomputer-aided-design(CAD)software.Anexpertineconomicsofinnovationandtechnologicalchange,DrTavassoliperceivesagreatopportunityforMedTechtoprofitfromthistechnologyintheproductionofmedicalimplants.

“Additivemanufacturingwillbenefitpotentialnewentrantstotheindustry,incumbentfirms,andtheoverallhealthcaresystem.Itwillalsoofferabenchmarkinuniversity-industrycollaborationthankstoRMIT’sleadership,”assertsDrTavassoli.

Theresearchteamplanstodevelopsolutionstoremovetechnological,marketandregulatorybarriersfor3Dprintedmedicaldevices.Biomedicalcompaniesarelikelytofindvalueinlearninghowtoincorporatethetechnologyintotheirbusinessplan,andwithmanysuchfirmsbasedinMelbourne,DrTavassolihopestoseethefruitsoftheresearchfirsthand.

Incollaborationwithabout80stakeholders,theresearchteamhasalreadycreatedtheindustry roadmapthatidentifiesthetrends,capabilitiesandbarrierstoadoptvariousapplicationsof3Dprintinginthemedicaldeviceindustry.Butthejourneydoesn’tendthere,withplanstocreatecomprehensiveguidelinesforovercomingbarriersinadopting additivemanufacturing.

Theteam’sguidelinesareexpectedtoleadtosignificantvaluecreation,includingmorejobsandanoverallexpansionoftheindustryasentrepreneurialstart-upsemergeandincumbentfirmsexploittheirbusinesses.Bestofall,patientswillprofitfromadramaticallyreducedcostinimplantsduetoimportreplacement.ThismeansmoreaffordableimplantsnotonlyinAustralia,butalsoglobally.

BUILDING biomedical innovation, layer by layer

Doctor Sam TavassoliLecturer in the School of Management

Dr Sam Tavassoli's project,

Adoption and Diffusion of Disruptive Technologies: The Case of Additive Manufacturing in MedTech Industry, is

funded by two of RMIT’s Enabling

Capability Platforms: Global

Business Innovation, and Advanced

Manufacturing and Fabrication.

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Whenhearingthephrase‘blockchain’,manypeopleimmediatelythinkofthe

cryptocurrencyknownasBitcoin.However,blockchainismorethanjustatechnologythathelpspeoplesendandreceivevirtualmoney;itisatechnologicaladvancementredefiningthewaysocietythinksaboutrecord-keepingandtrust.

Seeingthetechnology’spotentialinawiderangeoffields,ProfessorJasonPottsestablishedRMITUniversity’sBlockchainInnovationHubin2017.TheHubisexploringhowrapidlyadvancingblockchaintechnologywillemergeasthefoundationforanewworldwideeconomicinfrastructureforinnumerableindustries–rangingfromfinancetopowerdistribution–byincreasingtransparencyandsecurity.TheHub’steambringstogetherresearchersinthefieldsofeconomics,politicaleconomy,organisationaltheory,law,sociology,politicsandcommunications,illustratingthevastpotentialofthetechnologytoinfluencedifferentareasofsociety.

“OurresearchfacilitatestheadoptionofblockchaintechnologywithintheAustralianeconomy,”saysProfessorPotts.“Theeconomicimpactofthiswillsubsequentlyemergeviabetterbusinessstrategiesforblockchainadoptionandimprovedgovernmentregulation.”

Ascryptocurrenciesedgeintothemainstream,theHubalsoexaminestheimpactofblockchainonthewidereconomyandsociety,aswellasthepoliticalprocess,developingmetricstomeasuretheuptakeofwhatremainsarelativelymysterioustechnology.

TheHubisconcentratingitsresearchonahostofareassuchasTradeTech,theapplicationofinnovativetechnologytoglobalsupplychains.Italsoprovidesadviceinordertoshapethekindofhigh-levelinternationalpolicythatisvitalforutilisingblockchainintradesituations.

Furthermore,theHubseesgreatpotentialfortheuseofblockchaininhealthcare,lookingatefficientsystemsthatdealwiththetransmissionofhighlysensitiveinformationandhowblockchaintechnologycanprovidetheinfrastructuretosecurelytransmitdata.Thisincludesthecreationofessentialdatapoolsforcutting-edgemedicalresearch.

RMIT’S new blockchain gang explores opportunities

Professor Jason Potts Professor of Economics in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing and Director of the Blockchain Innovation Hub

Thesubjectofidentityiscentraltoalleconomic,politicalandsocialexchange,anditisanothercomponentoftheHub’sagenda.Currently,identitydataisoftenheldintheformofpoorlymaintainedcompanyrecords,endlessgovernmentregistriesandsocialmediadatabases,whicharenotoriouslyunreliable.TheHubexploreshowblockchaintechnologycanallowforidentitydatatobeheldandcontrolledbyindividuals,andexaminestheimpactonprivacy,civillibertiesandwidersociety.

“Asasolutiontotheproblemofdistributedsecurerecord-keepingandupdating,theuseofblockchaintechnologywillextendfarbeyonddigitalmoney.Webelieveitrepresentsthedawnofanewgenerationofeconomicinfrastructure,”enthusesProfessorPotts.

InpartnershipwithexpertsattheUniversityofBrightonintheUK,ProfessorPottshasalsobeencarryingoutamuchmoreabstractandpioneeringuseofthetechnology.Theyarebuildingamusicalinstrumentontheblockchain.

ProfessorPottsexplains:“Nearly400yearsago,JohannesKeplergavetheworldhisthreelawsofplanetarymotion.Whatmostpeopledon’trealiseisthatKeplermadehisdiscoveriesusingmusictoinvestigatethemotionofplanets;heevencreatedmusicalnotationsandinstructionsforhowtohearandplaygeometricalforms.CombiningblockchaintechnologywithKepler’sworkandwithdatarepresentingmodelsofthesolarsystem,wearebuildingConcordia,animmersivevirtualreality-basedinstrumentthroughwhichuserscan‘play’theplatform’sdatastructuresand‘hear’whatoursolarsystem’scelestialbodiessoundlike.”

Withthewide-rangingpotentialblockchainoffers,RMITaimstobeattheforefrontofinnovationinthefield.Withthisinmind,ProfessorPottsandhiscollaboratorsintheHubarealreadydevelopingseveralnewcoursesandmicro-credentialsaimedatundergraduates,postgraduatesandanexecutiveaudience,allkeentokeeptheirfingersonthedigitalpulse.

FindoutmoreabouttheHub’sblockchainactivitiesandRMIT’snewblockchaincoursesbyvisiting:https://sites.rmit.edu.au/blockchain-innovation-hub

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Visionlossrobspeopleoftheirproductivity,healthandhappiness,andthelinkbetweenpoverty

andblindnessisbeyonddoubt.Whenyouaddtheconnectionbetweenfailingeyesightandcomorbidities,suchasmentalillness,thecataractcrisisacrossthedevelopingworldcomesintosharpfocus.

Asitstands,untreatedcataractsremainthelargestcauseofblindnessorvisionimpairmentaroundtheworld.InVietnamalone,therateofcataractsurgicalavailabilityisnotrisingsufficientlytomatchtheincreaseincataractsufferers.Thoughsurgicalratesdoubledbetween2007and2014,thenumberofpeopleover50yearsofagesufferingfrombilaterallowvisionroseby500,000.Thereareapproximately1.1millionpeopleinVietnamlivingwithuntreatedcataractcases.

Yettheeconomicbenefitsfromcataractsurgeryareclear.Historicalresearchconfirmsthatsuccessfulproceduresinpoorerareashaveledtoimportanteconomicimprovements,withstudiesconcentratingonadditionalincomeearnedinlabourmarketsasanauthoritativegauge.

However,theeconomicimpactalonehasnotbeenenoughtoattracttheleveloffundingneeded.ResearchconductedbyProfessorSimonFeeny,AssociateProfessorAlbertoPossoandtheirteamisfillingthegapsinthenarrativetoprovidetheevidencedonorsneed.Thetotalvalueofcorrectiveeyesurgeryshouldbejudgedbyoverallevaluationsofthepeopleinvolved,notsimplybytheirabilitytowork,accordingtothefindingsoftheirstudyBeyond Monetary Benefits of Restoring Sight in Vietnam: Evaluating Well-being Gains from Cataract Surgery.

AcollaborationbetweenRMIT,TheFredHollowsFoundationandHoChiMinhCityUniversityofSocialSciencesandHumanitiesinVietnam,thisstudydifferedfromhistoricalonesintwopivotalways.Firstly,itexaminedthewaysinwhichtheburdenofcataractdiseasefallsonapatient'swidercircleoffamilyandfriends.Secondly,itexploredthehistoricallyunaddressedareasofpsychosocialandphysicalhealth.

Theprojectusedadiverseapproachtoanalysethewiderbenefitsofcataractsurgery.In-depthinterviews,forinstance,wereconductedalongsidequantitativesurveyswithcataractpatientsbeforeandthreemonthsaftertheprocedure.

Thedatarevealedstatisticallysignificantimprovementsforseveralnon-monetarymeasuresofwell-being,includingbettermobility,self-care,abilitytoundertakedailyactivities,self-reportedhealth,lifesatisfactionandoutlookonlife.

Thestudy’sfindingsalsoprovidedanimportantinsightintotheimpactofcataractsurgeryonpatients’carers.Theresearchteamdiscoveredthatcaregivers,whoaremainlywomen,oftenexperiencethesamelowlevelofincomeandpsychologicalinstabilityasthevisuallyimpairedpeopletheylookafter.Excitingly,quantitativedataalsoindicatedimprovedworkattendancefor59percentofcaregiversthreemonthsaftertheirdependenthadreceivedsurgery.

“Ourresultsshowthatthetruerateofreturnoncataractsurgeryishigherthanpreviousstudiesthought.Aswellasthetransformationtothepatient,thereareconsiderablepsychosocialbenefitstocaregivers,”saysProfessorFeeny.ThesefindingswillcontributetofuturefundraisingcampaignsbyTheFredHollowsFoundation,providingdonorswithevidencethatfundinginterventionstorestoresightissignificantlymoreimpactfulthanpreviouslybelieved.

Inthefuture,ProfessorFeenyandAssociateProfessorPossointendtoreplicatethisstudyinothernationswithahighcataractdiseaseburdenandhealthresourceconstraints.Theirgoalistohighlighthoweconomicdevelopmentinteractswithboththebenefitsandcostsofeyedisease.“Wealsowanttodoresearchintotimings.Thisstudyexaminedtheimpactsthreemonthsaftercataractsurgery,butimpactsshouldalsobeascertainedoverlongerperiodstoexaminewhethertheypersist,increaseordecrease,”Feenyconcludes.

IMPROVING vision boosts productivity and well-being: A Vietnamese perspective

Professor Simon Feeny and Associate Professor Alberto Posso School of Economics, Finance and Marketing

14 15

Professor Simon Feeny and Associate Professor Alberto Posso shine a light on

the non-monetary benefits of successful cataract surgery in Vietnam, proving

that psychological well-being, better physical health, support for carers and

hope for the future have as much currency as increased income.

Doctor Anne Kallies

Professor Lisa Farrell

Lecturer in the Graduate School of Business and Law

Atthe2017G20meeting,thenPrimeMinisterMalcolmTurnbullannouncedamajornew

researchcooperationbetweenAustraliaandGermany,theEnergy Transition Hub,aprojectaimedatidentifyingtheeconomicopportunitiesforbothcountriesinazerocarbonworld.

DrAnneKallies,withDrSangeethaChandrashekeranandProfessorLeeGoddenfromtheUniversityofMelbourneandpartneruniversitiesinhernativeGermany,isconductingaprojectunderthehubumbrellalookingatthelegalandgovernanceframeworksofadvancedmeteringinfrastructure,alsoknownassmartmeters.

Withitssmartmeterrolloutcompletedin2015,thestateofVictoriaisconsideredafrontrunnerinthisarea.TherestofAustralia,governedbyadifferentregulatorymodel,isalsointroducingthenewtechnology.“ThisisoneofthefewoccasionswhereAustraliaisaheadofGermanyinenergy-relatedmatters,andtheyareveryinterestedinourlearnings,”notesDrKallies.

Severalpoliticalassurancesarelinkedtotheintroductionofsmartmeters,includingtheabilityforindividualstomonitortheirownenergyuse,andeventradeelectricitywiththeirneighbours.Theresearchteamisinvestigatingwhethertheseassurancesarebeingtranslatedtotrueconsumerempowerment.Victorianspocketedthecostofthemandatorysmartmeterrollout,butaretheyreapingtherewards?

TworeportsbytheAuditorGeneralhaveindeedqueriedthetangiblebenefitstotheenduser.“Weallpaidforthesmartmetersbutwhatdoweactuallygetforit?”asksDrKallies.“Wewanttoknowwhetherconsumersarereallyacknowledgedintheactuallawandregulationsofsmartmeterrollouts.Ourroleasresearchersistoassesswhathashappened,andthenlookforwardtobuildanaccountabilitymodel forconsumers.”

The‘greenpromise’,includingthepotentialforcustomerstobenefitfromrenewableenergysuchassolarpower,isanotherassertionunderexamination.Theresearchteamhopestodeterminewhetherwecanimproveenergytransitionswiththesenewtypesoftechnologywhilekeepingeveryoneaccountable;thisincludestransparencyaboutthecostspassedfromtheenergysuppliertotheconsumer.

Drawingonexperiencesinbothcountries,theresearchersarewritinganissuespaperdescribingthesituationfromtheconsumer’sperspective.Forexample,howmightacustomeraccesstheirownenergyandcommunicationsdatatotakeadvantageofsmartmetertechnology?DrKalliesexpectsinterestfromindustryaboutthisresearch,buttheultimategoalistoimprovethelegalandregulatoryframework,andensurethatconsumersreapthebenefitsofanadvancedmeteringinfrastructure.

GETTING smarter with new technology consumer rights

Fromthepleasureofsippingamorningcoffeetothenecessityofourhouseholdelectricity,consumption

isanunavoidablepartoflife.Theconsumptionofso-called‘riskyproducts’(thinktobaccooralcohol)isformostpeopleacontrolledleisureactivity.Sowhathappenswhenaddictionbecomesdestructive?OneeconomistatRMITUniversitywantstocreatesafeenvironmentsfortheconsumptionofriskyproducts,andminimisetheharmonvulnerableindividuals.

ProfessorFarrellstudiestheexcessiveconsumptionofriskyproductswhichthreatenstocausefinancialchallengesorinterferewithpersonalrelationshipsandeverydaylife.“That’swhenweneedtobemindfulofthecoststoindividuals,thosearoundthemandsocietymorebroadly,”shesays.

InarecentprojectincollaborationwithVicHealth,ProfessorFarrellandateamofresearchersassessedtheroleofalcoholwithinsociety.“Byunderstandingindividualrolesinanepisodeofdrinkingwewereabletoidentifyandsegmentthemarketbyconsumers’habitsandbehaviours,”shesays.Thisresearchcontributedtoaparadigmshiftinhealthpromotionwhichincreasinglytargetsspecificconsumerbehaviouralprofilesratherthandemographicssuchasageorgender.

InaprojectfundedbytheAustralianResearchCouncil,ProfessorFarrellmadediscoveriesandrecommendationsrelatedtoillicittobacco.

Unsurprisingly,thestudyfoundhighlyaddictedsmokersturningtotheblackmarkettoavoidhightaxationonlegalcigarettes.Morefascinatingfortheresearchteam,thestudyalsounveiledayearningforthetasteofAustraliantobacco(whichceasedlegalproductionin2009),aswellasasectionofsmokersfalselybelievingthattheblackmarketofferedthemahealthierproduct–an‘organic’alternativetoitslegalcounterpart.“Smokersarebeingpushedtoamarketplacebecauseofpricefactors,leadingthemtoevengreaterhealthrisks,”saysProfessorFarrell,whoseresearchsubstantiatesbehavioural-basedapproachesinhealthpromotion,suchasplainpackaging,ratherthantraditionalpricehikes.

OtherformsofaddictionarealsoafocusofProfessorFarrell'sresearch,andsheconsidersonlinegamblingtoposeahugechallengeintermsofhealthpromotionandregulation.“Australiahasthehighestpercapitaexpenditureongamblingintheworldandit’ssomethingweneedtoaddress,”shesays.“We’vealsobeenlookingattherelationshipbetweengambling,happinessandgenerallevelsofwell-being.Theearlieryoucanidentifytherisksandsupporttheindividualsthebetter.”Withitstangiblebenefitsforcommunities,healthagenciesandsupportgroups,ProfessorFarrellaimstoengenderpositivechangethroughherresearchintoriskyandaddictiveproducts.

ECONOMICS of addiction

Professor of Economics in the School of Economics, Finance and Marketing and Director of the Markets, Culture and Behaviour Research Priority Area

Led by Professor Farrell, the Markets, Culture and Behaviour Research

Priority Area looks at individual and business decisions from a holistic

perspective. The group integrates behaviours and psychology in order to

understand the interaction of our hearts and our minds in decision making.

16 17

TheAustraliannot-for-profit(NFP)sectoriscurrentlyunderextremepressuretoreform

inthefaceoffundingshortages,changesingovernmentfundingpolicies,growingdemandandincreasedmarketisationandcompetition.

ThesedevelopmentshaveprovidedimpetusformanyAustraliancharitiesandNFPentitiestoreviewtheirstrategicstancesandalliances.“Largenumbersareconsideringorganisationalrestructurethroughmergers,amalgamationsandacquisitions(M&A),”explainsProfessorNavaSubramaniam.

Toexplorethistrend,shelaunchedtheMergers, Amalgamations and Acquisitions in the Australian Not-for-profit Human Service Sectorstudy.Hergoalwastobetterunderstandthekeymotivations,risks,barriersandopportunitiesfacingNFPinstitutions,whilealsodeterminingwhenM&Aactivityisanappropriateresponsetothepoliticalandeconomicchallengesfacingthesector.

ProfessorSubramaniamandherteamperformed21in-depthinterviewswithavarietyofthirdsectorboardmembers,CEOs,seniormanagementpersonnelandfinanceofficersin2017.Thelivedexperiencesofalmostallparticipantsrevealedthattheyhadeithercompleted,orseriouslyconsidered,anM&Arestructureinordertostimulatestrategicorganisationalgrowth.

Uponcompletingherresearch,ProfessorSubramaniamfoundthatM&Aactivitywas mostsuccessfulwhenthecombining organisationshadcloselyalignedvaluesand

cleareconomy-of-scaleopportunities.Shealsofound,however,thatmanyNFPsdonotpayadequateconsiderationtoalternatestructuralarrangementstoM&Awhichmaysuitthembetter,andpotentiallyconsumelesstimeandfewerresources.

“Alternativescouldbemoresimple,forexample,acost-sharingorresult-sharingagreement,”shesays,“onewhichdoesn’thavetoomanylegalidentitychangesandcouldeasilyberesolvedthroughalliedagreementsorservices.”

ResearchhasalsorevealedthatforNFPstheM&Aprocessisrarelysimpleorslick;robustboardandCEOleadership,goodgovernance,financialresourcesandacollaborativeapproachtostrategicplanningarecriticalsuccessfactors.FailuretoheedthemcouldhampertheabilityofNFPstoservetheirusers.Morepointedly,oneshouldbepreparedtodealwithorganisationalvaluesandculturaldifferencestomakeM&Aswork.

Lookingforward,ProfessorSubramaniamplanstoextendtheimpactofherresearchandprovideusefulinformationforbothNFPsandpolicymakers.“Iaimtodevelopanationalindexorregisterofthenumberofmergers,typesofmergers,restructuredgoverningboardsand,ifpossible,costsofmergers.SuchinformationwouldbemostusefulforinformingthechangingstructurallandscapeoftheAustralianNFPsector,”sheconcludes.

Bookmarkwww.galresearch.comtostayup-to-datewithProfessorSubramaniam’sresearch.

RESTRUCTURING third sector thinking

Professor Nava SubramaniamProfessor of Accounting in the School of Accounting and Director of the Governance, Accountability and Law Research Priority Area

Professor Mark Leenders

Stayingaheadofcompetitorsincreasinglyrequirescreativity,butwithfailureratesrangingfrom50

percentto90percent,manynewproductsandservicesnevermakeittomarket.Ifinnovationisthekeytosurvivalintoday’sbusinessworld,howcancompaniesandentrepreneursbalanceinventionwithshrewdmarketingstrategy?

ProfessorMarkLeenderswantstohelporganisationsdeliverontheirinnovationambitions,askingthequestionswhichstumpmanyabusinessmind:HowcancompaniesconnecttheirmarketingandR&Dcapabilities?Whatisthebestwaytobalanceproactiveandreactiveinnovationstrategies?Howcansustainabilityandcircularitybealignedwithaviablebusinessmodel?

ProfessorLeenders’researchisoftensetinthecreativeindustries,wherehumanimagination,skillandtalentcreateintellectualpropertyandcontributetoinnovativebusinessmodels.Hisexpertiseleadshimintotheworldofmovies,videogames,musicfestivals,healthcare,andevenwineries.Afterall,squanderingmoneyonadoomedproductmakesnosense,regardlessofthesector.

Whileexcitinginnovationcomeswithahugeinvestmentrisk.Donesuccessfullyitcancreatejobs,solveproblems,wincustomersandattractcapitalforfurtherinvention.Ontheotherhand,failuretoinnovatestiflescompaniesandeconomiesasawhole.“Whiledifferententitiesfacedifferentinnovationchallenges,productsinthebroadercreativeindustriesareinherently‘experience’goods,”explainsProfessorLeenders.“Consumershavedifficultyinassessingqualitybeforeconsumption.Myresearchaimstoidentifysmartpractices,structuresandstrategiesthatcanshiftthebalancebetweensuccessandfailure.”

Hisresearchshowsthattherearemanymechanismsandpracticesavailabletoanorganisationtoaddressinnovationbottlenecksbeyondmerelyformingcross-functionalteams.Inassistingcompanieswiththisbalancingact,healsoshowsthatinnovationstrategiesaremosteffectiveifaccompaniedbybrandbuildingstrategies.

Besidesdevelopingbusinessinnovationsimulationtools,ProfessorLeendershasadvisedMcKinsey&Companyinrelationto‘stagegatesystems’–ameansofmanagingstagesofnewproductcreation.Hisindustry-specificevidencedemonstratesthatthesesystemsoftenhaveanegativeinfluenceoninnovationperformancebecauseofbureaucratisation,andheofferstipsonusingthemmoreeffectively.

ProfessorLeendersiscurrentlylookingatvirtualworldplatforms,includingopportunitiesforentrepreneurstostartvirtualbusinessesandearnreal-worldmoney.“Ratherthanfocussingsolelyontheuser,Itrytounderstandthebusinessecosystemandthosedevelopingthenewapplicationsorservices,”hesays.Giventhepotentialofvirtualplatformstoimpactupondataprivacyandhealth,thisresearchmayalsoimpactuponpolicyinfuture.

Withcreativeindustriescontributingmorethan$30billionayeartotheAustralianeconomy,itisvitalforbusinesstoharnessinnovation.Throughhisresearch,ProfessorLeendersinfluencesbusinessestomanagethevarioustrade-offsandtiltthescalestotheiradvantage.

THE best of both worlds: Balancing creativity and commercialism

Professor in the Graduate School of Business and Law

18 19

Professor Bronwyn Naylor and Mr Stan Winford

VictoriaistheonlyAustralianstatewithoutspentconvictionslegislation.Thismeansthateven

trivialoffencesfromdecadesagocanstillappearonpolicecriminalrecordchecks.ItrepresentsasignificantsocialbarrierformanyAboriginalVictorians,atatimewhenthegovernmentlookstoclosethegapinemploymentratesbetweenIndigenousandnon-IndigenousAustralians.Aboriginalpeoplearecurrently20percentlesslikelytoparticipateinthelabourforce.

TheCriminal Record Discrimination Project is an Aboriginal-ledcollaborationbetweennumerouscommunityandlegalorganisations,includingWoor-DunginandRMITUniversity.ItisoverseenbyanAdvisoryCommitteewithover50members,includingProfessorBronwynNaylorandMrStanWinford.

TheprojecthasthedualaimofintroducingtoVictoriaalegislatedspentconvictionsschemeandanamendmenttoprohibitdiscriminationagainstpeoplewithanirrelevantcriminalrecord.RemovingprejudiceonthesegroundswillincreasefinancialandeconomicopportunitiesofAboriginalpeopleinVictoria,whilebroadeningtheiropportunitiesforcivicengagement.

InApril2017,Woor-DunginhostedaconsultationwithcommunitymembersandlegalstakeholdersonwhatspentconvictionslegislationandprotectionfromdiscriminationonthebasisofirrelevantcriminalhistoryshouldlooklikeinVictoria.Toinformthesediscussions,MrWinfordinterviewedAboriginallegalservicesfromotherstatesandterritories.

ContactwithlocalindividualsrevealedinnumerableexamplesofdiscriminationfacedbyAboriginalpeople.Manyhadbeenpreventedfromgettingajob,obtaininginsurance,receivingapprovalasakinshipcarerandservingoncommunityorgovernmentboardsbecauseofanirrelevantcriminalrecord.

ApapersumminguptherecommendationsbasedontheconsultationsshowsthatVictoriaiscompletelyoutofstepwitheveryotherAustralianjurisdiction.“AllotherAustralianjurisdictionshavespentconvictionsschemesandmosthavesomeformofanti-discriminationprotectiontoensurethatpeople

withirrelevantcriminalrecordsarenotpreventedfromparticipatingintheircommunities,”notesMrWinford.

“Itisclearthatamorerobust,statutoryinformationmanagementregimeforcriminalrecordsiswelloverdueinVictoria,”headds.

Thepaperalsoincluded11casestudiesdetailingcaseswhereAboriginalpeoplewithanirrelevantcriminalrecordhaveexperienceddiscrimination.ProfessorNaylorsupervisedthedevelopmentofthesecasestudies.

“It’svitalthatVictoriaintroduceslegislationtoprotectpeoplefromdiscriminationonthebasisofanunrelatedcriminalhistoryaswellasspentconvictionlegislation,”saysProfessorNaylor.“CurrentlawsentrenchthediscriminationfacedbyAboriginalpeopleandlimittheirvaluablecontributiontosociety.”

WiththeendorsementofmembersofVictoria’sAboriginalcommunities,thepaperwassubmittedtothestatewideAboriginalJusticeForum,whichunanimouslyendorseditinDecember2017.ThepaperiscurrentlywiththeVictorianAttorney-General,awaitingaresponse.

ProfessorNaylor,MrWinfordandtheteamarehopefulthepaperwillhaveaneffectinlinewiththeimpactoftheirpreviouswork.Mostrecently,thestateparliamentpassedlegislationtochangerecordsrelatingtochildrenwhoweretakenintostateprotection,uptothe1990s,inresponsetotheCriminal Record Discrimination Project.

ThistypeofworkistypicalofthesocialjusticeadvocacyworkcarriedoutinRMIT’sCentreforInnovativeJustice(CIJ).Forexample,MrWinfordhasrecentlybeenworkingonanotherprojectthattakesalookathowthecriminaljusticesystemunfairlytreatsindividualswithAcquiredBrainInjury.TofindoutmoreabouttheworkoftheCIJ,visit:www.cij.org.au

MAKING irrelevant convictions history

Centre for Innovative Justice and Graduate School of Business and Law

Professor Bronwyn Naylor and Mr Stan Winford are participating in a historic project to

change legislation connected with spent convictions and irrelevant criminal records

in Victoria.

20 21

Inourtechnology-enabled,data-drivenworld,thereisanincreasingemphasisoncustomer-centred

innovationsandblendingserviceswithtechnology.Firmsarescramblingtofindwaystoexploreandexploitknowledge,internationaliseoperations,andscale-upingeneral.Keepingupwithevolvingtechnologyisessential,butaretraditionalstructuresandbarrierstocollaborationhinderingprogress?

ProfessorAnne-LaureMentionaimstoanswerthisquestionbyfocussingherresearchontwostreamsofthought.Firstly,sheisexploringthehumansideofopeninnovation–theprocessbywhichknowledgeisusedtoaccelerateideas–bystudyingthenotionof‘openness’atindividual,teamandcompanylevel.Secondly,sheislookingatcollaborativedesignapproachesforinnovationandthecriticalearlydevelopmentphaseofbusinessecosystems.

Shehasmultipleresearchprojectsunderwaywithlocalandinternationalpartners,includingalargescaleEuropeanUnionproposalthatisexploringtherelevanceandimpactofregulationonemergingfinancialtechnologies,suchasFinTechandRegTech.“Youcouldsaythatcollectively,myprojectsaddressthecurrentsocietalchallengeofhowtodesign,organiseandexecutepathwaysforinnovation,”saysProfessorMention.

Herresearchseekstodiscoverhowknowledgetransfer,governanceanddesiredperformancecanbecombinedwithinpublicandprivatesectorfirmsinordertoincreaseinnovationcapabilities,whiledevelopingframeworksandtoolkitsthatwillhelpsolvethechallengeofnurturinginnovation.

Inaddition,herongoinganalysisofsandboxes(virtualspacesforrunninguntestedsoftware)willproviderecommendationsforgovernanceconditionsthatfosterexperimentationwithnewtechnologies.“Economically,wewillbeabletodesignefficientinnovationecosystemswhereindividualfirmscangrowandscale-up,”addsProfessorMention.“Politically,wewillshapethestructuresandartefactsattheintersectionofinnovation,regulation,lawandintellectualproperty.”

Ultimately,policymakerswillgainadvantagesfromaclearerunderstandingofemergingtechnologiesinthefinancialsectorandbeyond,andgoverningauthoritieswillbenefitfromgloballyconvergingguidelines.Thiswillbringsupervisoryoversighttoanotherwisecomplexmarket.

Theresearchwillalsobebeneficialtodecision-makersininnovativecompanies,innovationhubsandstart-upaccelerators,whowillparticularlybenefitfromdeeperunderstandingandcuratedstrategiesofinnovationmanagement.ThisrecentlyoccurredwiththemajorEuropeanopeninnovationproject,theEuropean Academic Network for Open Innovation(OI-Net),whereProfessorMentionworkedwithhigh-levelpolicymakersanduniversitiestoshapethedevelopmentofaEurope-widecurriculumforopeninnovation.

BLAZING a trail for innovation

Professor Anne-Laure Mention Director of Global Business Innovation Enabling Capability Platform

ECONOMICALLY, WE WILL BE

ABLE TO DESIGN EFFICIENT

INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS

WHERE INDIVIDUAL FIRMS

CAN GROW AND SCALE-UP.”

“ Professor Anne-Laure Mention looks beyond theories in order to understand the

practice of incorporating innovation and knowledge transfer as it unfolds in business

and wider society.

Forsociety,ProfessorMention’sresearchwillcarrythemostlong-lastingbenefits,instillingtrustandtransparencyintechnology-enabledservicesandreducingtheriskofsystemicfailures.

ProfessorMention'sfutureresearchdirectionincludeslookingatinnovativemethodstotestcurrentfolktheories(whichpredictbehaviour)ininnovationmanagement,andnewwaystooperationalisepolicies.Workisalreadyunderway,forinstance,todevelopnovelinsightsonthehumansideofopeninnovation.ProfessorMentionisalsosupervisingPhDresearchincorporatingcognitiveandsocialpsychologyexperimentstoexamineeffectsonopeninnovationbehaviourandperformance.

“IamplanningtodeliversimilarsocialimpactintheformofinnovativeeducationandtrainingprogramsatalllevelsfromthecurrentstreamofresearchonFinTech,regulatorysandboxesandthebroaderhumansideofopeninnovation,”concludesProfessorMention.

FindoutmoreabouthowProfessorMentionandhercolleaguesaresolvingcriticalglobalproblemsanddeliveringsignificanteconomic,socialandenvironmentalimpactbyvisitingRMIT’sEnablingCapabilityPlatforms: www.rmit.edu.au/research/research-expertise/our-focus/enabling-capability-platforms

22 23

RESTARTING the global IT environment

Asbusinessescomeunderincreasingpressurefromcustomers,competitorsandregulators,the

needtoimplementsustainablebusinesspracticeshasbecomeaveryrealchallenge.Balancingeconomicandenvironmentalperformanceisakeystrategicissueofourtime.

TheRMIT-ConnectionResearchInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)SustainabilityFrameworktacklesthisduality.TheICTSustainabilityFrameworkwastheresultofaresearchpartnershipbetweenConnectionResearch,FujitsuAustraliaandRMITUniversity.

LedbyProfessorAlemayehuMolla,theteamcreatedtheSustainabilityFrameworkasapioneeringguidetoassistorganisationsaimingtotransitiontotrulyglobalisedICTsustainability.TheteamfocusedonalargearrayofICTsustainabilityconcerns,coveringsupplychain,lifecyclemanagement,datacentres,end-usercomputingandenergyusemeasurementandmanagement,amongothertopics.

TheresultingSustainabilityFrameworkhassincebeenusedasaconsultingtoolbyConnectionResearchandICTSustain.Moreover,Fujitsuhasappliedittosustainabilitybenchmarkingsince2010,providingunmatchedanalysisofthetrendingmaturityofICTsustainabilityinorganisationsbasedinAustralia,Canada,China,India,Japan,NewZealand,theUKandtheUS,viatheGlobalICTSustainabilityBenchmarkReport.

Fujitsu’sreportalsocontainshelpfultips,expertadviceand‘quick-win’strategiesthatbusinessescanusetoachieveimprovedefficiencyandcompetitivegains.GlenMcLatchie,GeneralManagerICT,MeridianEnergyLimited,said:“TheGlobalICTSustainabilityBenchmarkReportissomuchmorethanareport.It’sagreattoolthatallowsorganisationstofundamentallyshifttheirapproachtosustainableICTforthebetterhealthoftheirorganisationandtheplanet.”

ProfessorMollabelieveshisresearchintothisevolvingareahasbeenpivotaltochangingattitudes.“ResearchersandorganisationsarenowstartingtoconsidertheroleofICTinbusinesses,notonlyincontributingtotheirenvironmentalfootprint,butalsointacklingclimatechangeproblems,”hesays.

Moreover,theSustainabilityFrameworkhasalsobeenusedtodevelopaprofessionaltrainingcourserecognisedbytheAustralianComputerSocietyandThailand’sNationalScienceandTechnologyDevelopmentAgencyAcademy.

Thoughthisspecificprojectisnolongeractive,ProfessorMollaisstillworkingtoimplementenvironmentallysustainablesolutionsthatmakeeconomicsensetobusinessproblems.Assuch,heiscurrentlyengagedinstudiesfocussingontheuseofdisruptivedigitaltechnologies–suchasbigdata,InternetofThingsandartificialintelligence–forsustainability.

Professor Alemayehu MollaProfessor of Information Systems in the School of Business IT and Logistics Professor Pia Arenius

Aboutadecadeago,ProfessorPiaAreniusaskedtenfoundersofaFinnishcompanytomakean

audiodiary.Handingeachasmalldigitalrecorder,shetaskedthemwithdocumentingtheiremotionsandactionsintheworkplace.Analysingtheirdiariesforemotivetriggerwords,sheconcludedhercountrymentobeanunemotionalbunch!

Thankfully,technologyhascomealongwaysincethenandProfessorArenius,whonevergaveupontheconceptoflinkingemotiontoentrepreneurialactivity,hasabandonedtherecordersinfavourofwearabledevices.Wornlikeawatch,thewristbandscollectphysiologicaldatasuchasheartrateandskinconductivity–reliableindicatorsofaperson’sstress,excitementandarousallevels–inanon-intrusiveway.“Peoplecanfabricatetheiremotions,”explainsProfessorArenius,“andasweknow,someeven havedifficultydescribingthem,butbiologicaldatadoesn’tlie.”

Forherstudy,ProfessorAreniusenlistsbuddingbusinesspeopletowearthewristbandsforanumberofdaysatatime,duringwhichtheyalsoreceivemobilephonesurveysaskinghowthey’refeelingandwhatthey’redoingatthatmoment.Bycomparingthephysiologicalresponsestotheindividuals’self-reporteddata,thestudylooksbeyondpurelybusiness-relatedoutcomes.“Iamalsointerestedinthewell-beingoftheentrepreneur,andtheimplicationofoneperson’sentrepreneurialactivitiesontheirfamilyandwidersocialnetwork.Dotheygetenoughsleep?Aretheyexercisingenough?”

Withthewearabletechnologygeneratingdataeverymillisecond,ProfessorAreniusiscollaboratingwithmathematiciansandstatisticianstomakesenseofthefigures.“Inthelongrunwe’retalkingaboutmachinelearningandartificialintelligence.Theamountofdatafromthesedevicesissohugethatweneedtocreatealgorithmsandprocessestoanalysethepatternsbeforebeingabletocomparethephysiologicalresponseswithentrepreneurialactivities.”

Thepotentialofwearabletechnologyforassessingsomeone’smentalstateisvast,inparticularforindustriesconcernedwithneurologicaldiversity inentrepreneurshipandentrepreneurialwell-being.Wearablescanalsobeusedtomeasurepeople’semotionalstateinarangeofsituations,fromcheckingtheirreactiontoaparticularwebsite,totheirresponsestospecificworkorlifescenarios.Aswearabletechnologycontinuestoadvancetheyhavethepotentialtoimpactmanyaspectsofhowpeoplelive,learnandwork.

ProfessorAreniushasalwaysbeenfascinatedtoknowifthereisacorrelationbetweensuccessandfailureamongstbuddingentrepreneurs,andinfuturehopestounlockthekeytopersistenceinentrepreneurialactivity.“Thereisnostrictformulaforpredictingwhoisgoingtobesuccessfulandwhowon’t.Itisaphenomenonwhichiscontingentonmanyfactors,includingtheperson,context,opportunity,timing andresources.”

Thankstotechnologicaladvances,ProfessorAreniusisnowequippedwithatoolcapableofrevealingtheeffectsoftheentrepreneurialprocessontheindividual,wherephysiologicalresponsesspeakforthemselves.

WEARABLE technology unlocks entrepreneurs’ emotions

Professor of Entrepreneurship in the School of Management and Director of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Priority Area

Professor Alemayehu Molla has been leading timely research that focuses

on ‘greening up’ the credentials of Australia’s vibrant Information and

Communications Technology sector.

24 25

Professor Sara Charlesworth

GOOD quality work underpins good quality care

Withitsageingpopulation,providinglong-termcareforAustralia’selderlyisacrucial

challengefacingprovidersandpolicymakers.

“SustainableagedcareservicesarecriticaltoAustralia’sfuture.Thedemandforagedcareworkersisgrowingandthesejobsarehardtoautomate.However,manyfrontlinecareworkersareemployedinpoorqualityjobswithlowpaywhilefacingextremetimepressure,highstressandalackofcareeropportunities.Ibegantowonderabouttheextenttowhichpoorjobqualitywasmakingitdifficulttorecruitandretaincareworkersandifitwashamperingproviders’abilitytodeliverqualitycare,”explainsProfessorSaraCharlesworth.

ThuswasborntheQuality Jobs and Quality Care project.Inthisstudy,ProfessorCharlesworthandherteamworkedwithagedcareorganisationstoidentifysmall-scalechangestoimprovethewaysfrontlinecareworkisorganisedtoproducebothbetterqualityjobsandbetterqualitycare.TheprojectwasundertakeninpartnershipwiththreeofAustralia'sleadingagedcareproviders–Brightwater,HammondCareandHelpingHand–andthemainAustralianaged-careunion,UnitedVoice.

Withintheagedcareproviders,theresearchteamworkedwithmanagersandworkerstoidentifyanddesignsixseparate‘interventions’,eachofwhichwasimplementedforasix-monthperiodandthenevaluated.

Inoneagedcareproviderthatprovideshomecareservices,manycareworkers–whoworkaloneonhomevisits–reportedfeelingisolatedandunsureofhowtoproceedwhenfacedwithanewsituation.Whilenewhomecareworkersreceivedinitialtrainingandmentoring,littleon-goingaccessiblesupportwasavailable.

Asaresultoftheresearchteam’sdiscussionwithlinemanagersandhomecareworkers,theorganisationintroduced‘specialistbuddymentors’.Theirrolewastoprovidein-personandover-the-phonesupporttobothnewandexperiencedstaffmembers.Followingthissmallchange,employeesreportedfeelingmoreconfidentandsupportedwhenvisitinganewclient.Theyalsofeltbetterabletomeettheneedsofincreasinglycomplexcarerequiredbyolderclientsandclientsrecentlydischargedfromhospital.

Atanotheragedcareprovider,ProfessorCharlesworth’steamaimedtosolvethechallengeofhowtoachieveconsistencyofcareforresidentswithdementia.Workingtogetherwithnursingandalliedhealthprofessionalsandfrontlinecareworkers,theteamlookedforwaystoimprovequalityofcareprovidedandcareworkers’jobsatisfaction.Theproviderlimitedthenumberoffrontlinecareworkersassignedtoeachresidenttoprovideforongoingrelationshipswithregularworkers,whobecameinvolvedinthedesignofpersonalisedcareforresidents.Onewaythiswasachievedwasthrougha‘well-beingmapping’exercisewithresidentsandtheirfamiliestodiscusswaysindividualresidentneeds,preferencesandwell-beingcouldbeimproved.

Distinguished Professor of Management

“Careworkerswerethrilledtobeinvolvedinthiscareplanning.Itenabledthemtotalktothenursingandalliedhealthstaffaboutwhattheyalreadyknewaboutaparticularresident.Theyalsogainedabetterunderstandingofthehistoryandpreferencesofthepersonstowhomtheywereprovidingcare,”saysProfessorCharlesworth.“Thisexperiencesupportedthehypothesisdrivingthewholeproject:thatgoodqualitycareisunderpinnedbygoodqualitywork.”

TheteamhassinceproducedtheQuality Jobs, Quality Caretoolkittoencouragetheuptakeofthepracticalstepsandlessonslearnedintheprojectacrossthebroaderagedcareindustry.Thetoolkithelpsagedcareorganisationsthroughwhatmightotherwisebeadauntingprocessofincorporatingsmall-scalechangestoimprovejobandcarequality.

ProfessorCharlesworth’simportantworkiscontinuingthroughanAustralianResearchCouncilDiscovery

Project,Decent Work Good Care: International Approaches to Aged Care,whichispushingherresearchintoaninternationalsetting.Throughthisproject,ProfessorCharlesworthandtheAustralian,ScottishandCanadianteamofChiefInvestigatorsaimtobetterunderstandhowgovernmentpolicies,fundingandregulationshapetheprovisionofdecentjobsandgood,qualitycare.Followtheproject’sfindingsonitswebsite:www.decentworkgoodcare.com

Distinguished Professor Sara

Charlesworth leads research into

what better practices might look

like in the aged care sector,

even in the face of limited

government funding.

26 27

College of Business Information

ResearchisacoreactivityoftheCollegeofBusiness.Ouracademicsarededicated

tobothknowledgecreation(throughresearch)andknowledgedissemination(throughindustryengagementandteaching).

Ourresearcherssolvereal-worldproblemsincollaborationwithdiverseanddynamicpartners. TheCollegehasastrongrecordofindustryengagementandcountslargemulti-nationalcompaniessuchasANZ,IBMandWorldVisionamongitspartners.Tosupportindustry-engagedresearch,theCollegehascreatedacohesiveanddynamicresearchenvironmentthatfostersentrepreneurshipandinnovation.

TheCollegehasmultipleareasofresearchconcentration(outlinedindetailbelow)thatseektointegrateourinterdisciplinaryresearchexpertisewiththeneedsofindustry.

TheCollegehasacentrallocationintheheartofMelbourne.Thisenablesresearcherstoestablishcloselinkswithindustry,whetheritiswithbusiness,government,orthewidercommunity.Collaborationwithexternalpartners,producingindustry-relevantresearch,andtranslatingourresearchtopositivechangeinthecommunity,areallvitalcomponentsofourresearchcultureandpractice.

Areas of Research Concentration

Research in the College of Business covers

a broad range of business discipline areas,

reflecting the activities of our Schools.

The College has a number of research

concentration areas aimed at integrating

our interdisciplinary research expertise with

the needs of industry. These include:

■ TheCentreforPeople,OrganisationandWork

■ TheBlockchainInnovationHub

■ EntrepreneurshipandInnovation

■ GlobalSupplyChainManagementandLogistics

■ Governance,AccountabilityandtheLaw

■ Markets,CultureandBehaviour

■ InternationalDevelopmentandTrade

The College of Business also hosts the

innovative Behavioural Business Lab, and is

aligned with the Global Business Innovation

Enabling Capability Platform, which is of

particular strategic importance to RMIT.

The nationally renowned Centre for Innovative

Justice and the Australian APEC Study Centre are

also both affiliated with the College of Business.

The above is not an exhaustive list, and our

areas of research concentration are constantly

evolving to respond to new societal and industry

problems. Refer to the Business Research

website for the most up to date information.

RESEARCH Overview

Higher Degrees by Research OpportunitiesRMIThasareputationforemployingleadingexperts,producinghighqualityresearchandharbouringdeepindustrylinks.ThisistheuniqueenvironmentweofferourPhDcandidates.

RMITPhDcandidatesareequippedwiththeskillstosolvereal-worldlocalandinternationalproblems.OurPhDcandidatesgraduatewithworkreadyskills,applicableforavarietyofcareers.

TofindoutmoreaboutRMIT’shigherdegreeprogramsandscholarshipofferingsvisit:www.rmit.edu.au/research/phds-and-other-research-degrees

Learn More About Our ResearchIn2018theCollegeofBusinesslaunchedaseriesofvideosthatprofileeightoftheCollege’sleadingresearchersandtheirresearchstories. Visitwww.RMITbusinessresearch.com.autowatchthevideosandlearnmoreaboutourresearch.

Connect With UsFollowusonTwitterandFacebooktohearmoreaboutthefascinatingresearchcomingoutoftheCollegeofBusiness.

@RMITBusRes

@RMITBusinessResearch

Partner With UsContactusatbusiness.research@rmit.edu.autoenquireaboutthewaysinwhichyoucanpartnerwithus.

General EnquiriesPleasecontacttheCollegeofBusinessResearchOfficeatbusiness.research@rmit.edu.auforallgeneralenquiries.

28 29

—Achieve your PhD at the College of BusinessOur PhD candidates are equipped with the skills to solve real-world local and international problems

The College of Business has a reputation for employing leading experts, producing high quality research, and harbouring deep industry links

This is the unique environment we offer our PhD candidates

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