46 research outputs found
Managing women\u27s post retirement career in law enforcement organisations: Lessons from developed nations for emerging economies
This paper explores protean careers US and Australian policewomen seek post retirement. Two research questions address why policewomen seek a protean career after retirement from law enforcement. The study utilised a phenomenological approach involving semi-structured interviews conducted with 40 policewomen in middle and top management roles in the USA and Australia. Analysis of data involved coding for emergent themes based on the interpretivist research philosophy. Interview transcripts of 40 policewomen from these countries show that more than 90% of the women from the USA were aggressively seeking to develop protean careers while that was not the case in Australian law enforcement. The paper demonstrates the current situation in the USA and Australia; and how it can conceptualise models for emerging economies. It provides important lessons for women in organisations, especially in emerging economies on how to create protean careers post retirement
The Make-Over of the Travel Agent: Responding to the New Information Technology Environment
The travel and tourism industry is contributing to economic growth all around the world: globally the industry is recognised as having enormous potential. Relying as it does on the flow of information, travel and tourism is fundamentally affected by changes in information technology (IT). Recent IT developments like the Internet and World Wide Web directly impact on the industry. The nature and size of the impact remains unclear, since at the one extreme there is the establishment of virtual travel offices and at the other extreme there are travel agents who show little interest in embracing IT. This paper examines some factors impacting on developments in the travel agency business environment. The first section explores the traditional role of travel agents, followed by a brief overview of the changes in their environment in the last decade. The travel agency's link to IT and, more precisely, the Internet and its impact is considered next; the impact of changes on the role of customers, training and various ways of coping by travel agencies are also briefly considered. The paper concludes with some comments on the means whereby travel agents can redefine their role and ensure the survival of their business
Student Diversity and Service Provision: The Realities of Professional Skill Integration
No Abstract
Reality checks for career women: An interpretevist paradigm
This paper reflects on the latent organisational process that leads tothe scarcity of women in senior positions. Utilising characteristics of legitimisation, institutionalisation and self-determination theories the paper observes how women manage upward mobility. Subsequently, it was important to investigate the mid-level cohorts, as there lies the critical question triggering the anomaly. Focusing on the public sector with an interest in gendered organisations, the study examines law enforcement. Conversely, the aim of this paper is to focus on why there is a continued dearth in the number of policewomen at top level positions in USA and Australia. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach is applied. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with 40 policewomen in mid-management positions in American and Australian law enforcement. It further aims to explore the linkages of the ongoing paucity of gendered leadership in organisations, questioning how these will influence women\u27s ability to advance to higher-level positions
A Finnish-Australian Acquisition: Organisational Problems and Issues
Although acquisitions are a popular way of internationalisation, the integration of acquired companies remains an arduous process that often impacts on the performance of the subsidiary or the overall organisation. Difficulties associated with integration mostly relate to cultural differences, either national or organisational. This paper reflects on the experience of Finnish and Australian staff involved in the acquisition of an Australian company by a Finish company. The paper points at problems and issues with business planning, vision sharing, effective management and leadership, cultural differences, cultural change, trust relationships and the integration environment as derived from literature and confirmed in the experience of interviewed respondents. The findings drawn from the case imply that it is imperative to avoid an 'us vs. them' atmosphere while both management and leadership must be strong and unbiased. Although a level of independence and identity should be allowed after the acquisition, integration of organisational cultures remains crucial for success
Internationalisation and Country Image "Being German" in Western Australia
Internationalisation strategies are influenced by the value and strategic importance of a global image and presence. A strong country image, like 'being German', contributes significantly to a product image. This paper considers the characteristics of the German national identity and the position of German business in the international environment. In addition, the paper considers the value of 'being German' and the link between German business and Australia, more specifically Western Australia. The paper reflects on data collected from German associated businesses in Western Australia by describing demographics and considering the active pursuit of, and reasons for, the German association
Two Steps Back, Three Steps Forward: The Story of South African Migrants Working in Australia
Skilled migration has become a targeted and intentional instrument by a number of countries in an attempt to ensure skill sufficiency and as a driver of continued economic growth and development. Although countries like the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia have been able to attract significant numbers of skilled migrants through a combination of pull factors, not the least of which government regulations, this has not always translated into the optimal recognition and use of the human capital of the migrants. Since some literature argues a separation between social and economic integration, special attention to the integration of migrants into the workforce is justified. In order to assess the integration though it is crucial to understand the demographics, experience and phases that migrants go through when settling in a new work environment. This paper reports the narrative of South African migrants establishing themselves in the Australian workforce. It determines that this group of migrants seems to predominantly experience aspects of integration in the labour force as reported in other literature, confirming the validity of earlier research while providing a picture of individual and specific challenges and experiences
Reputation and information drivers in student recruitment: comparing South African, Singaporean and Malaysian tertiary education
Higher education across the globe is facing various changes, including commercialisation, globalisation, funding restrictions and declining enrolment numbers; all translating in a higher level of competition. Attracting quality students in this highly competitive education environment is crucial as poor retention ratios is a reason for concern and government funding is consequently influenced adversely. This paper examined and compared criteria related to the importance of reputation and information to attract students in three different countries. Al three countries are in a sense, centres of education where education is recognised as a crucial driving force and the accessibility of education is politically important. The main findings amongst others are that the most important attributes for the South African sample was the academic reputation of the institution, while the Malaysian sample preferred the reputation of the study program. The Singaporean sample rated the marketing activities as priority. Significant differences with regard to these outcomes were measured between all three sample groups
Owner Occupier Drivers of Success in Small Business: Comparing Soft Drivers with Hard Work
Despite small and medium sized enterprises accounting for the majority of business activity in most economies and its appeal as a driver of economic growth, there is a lingering uncertainty around the motivation for engaging in SME activities as most SME owners have no growth aspirations. The notion of understanding success and its drivers is prominent in that small business closure rates can reach 9 per cent of the total business stock of a country. To date little empirical evidence provides insight in person-oriented drivers of survival and success of small businesses. This paper addresses these shortcomings somewhat and reports on unstructured feedback collected from small business owners in respect of their perception and experience of driver of success