Caution
Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1320-6222
Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
COPS/IMPACT is concerned with economic modelling. The principal research focus is the development of a general equilibrium forecasting model of the Australian economy, called the MONASH model, emphasising interactions between technical change, the economy and the environment. The model has a dynamic structure. It includes a regional dimension and includes a detailed representation of the demand for labour by occupation.
The research staff of the COPS/IMPACT group includes three professors, an associate professor, five senior research fellows, five research fellows and two computer specialists.
The centre is funded by Monash University, the Industry Commission, competitive research grants and contract research. The centre publishes research reports and discussion papers. For more information telephone 9905 2398.
The mission of the centre is to develop its role as a centre of excellence in Australia in health program evaluation and health economics and contribute to an enlargement of the Australian capacity to undertake evaluative research and teaching. Its specific objectives are to: research and develop appropriate methodologies for health services evaluation and health economics; undertake postgraduate training in health services evaluation and health economics; undertake education programs for health practitioners and the community in aspects of health services evaluation; undertake evaluations of specific health services in Australia as well as research into broader health systems issues; and stimulate activity in health services evaluation by publishing research results, conducting seminars and other appropriate activities.
The centre has been developed as a cooperative venture between the University of Melbourne and Monash University with staff undertaking collaborative research and teaching activities as the Centre for Health Program Evaluation. The two units making up the centre operate independently as the Health Economics Unit (Monash) and the Program Evaluation Unit (University of Melbourne).
The Health Economics Unit is core funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation with other funding provided by the universities (infrastructure), from competitive research grants and contract research.
The CHPE is located at Fairfield Hospital and currently has twenty research staff. It publishes a working paper series and research reports and organises public seminars, held twice monthly. For more information telephone 9280 2363.
The Graduate School of Government was established in January 1994 and provides education for leadership in the public sector. It aims to advance the public interest by preparing leaders for government and public service and by contributing to the debate on important public issues.
Principle objectives of the GSG are to conduct research into public sector management with the aim of improving efficiency and effectiveness; to conduct research into certain economic policy issues involving the public sector; to promote community discussion and awareness of these issues; to equip community and government leaders to function at the highest level possible in Australian government; and to promote collaborative teaching and research on matters related to international issues.
Activities within the school include graduate degree programs to prepare the next generation of public leaders; basic research on public management; applied research on policy issues; executive programs to enhance the skills of public sector managers and to bring together students and practitioners.
Core activities are the delivery of the Master in Public Policy and Management (MPPM); teaching public sector components in the MBA program; supervision of research students undertaking higher degrees; executive education - most particularly carried out by the Public Sector Management Institute; and the instigation of public debate and discussion by holding regular forums on public policy and public sector management.
The GSG administers, on behalf of the university, a graduate diploma and masters program in foreign affairs and trade under contract to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra. Students in the program are graduate trainee diplomats employed by the department and a number sponsored from overseas embassies.
For more information telephone 9903 8751.
The centre, located at the city campus, 30 Collins Street, was established in 1989 with core funding provided by the Commonwealth Government. Its aims are to conduct research on industrial relations, particularly aspects of workplace industrial relations such as enterprise bargaining and best practice; provide advice and assistance to industry on a fee-for-service basis, utilising the expertise of the centre's full-time staff; offer a quality graduate studies program in industrial and employee relations with a strong emphasis on current issues facing practitioners at the workplace; and liaise with employer and employee organisations to determine issues for research on the development of the Australian industrial relations.
The staff of the centre offer a wide range of expertise including labour law, labour economics, human resource management and training as well as the core industrial and employee relations skills. It has particular skills in benchmarking, best practice programs, and conducting case studies and questionnaire surveys. Current research projects include training in the meat industry; training provisions in enterprise agreements; benchmarking in the construction industry; quality assurance in the education industry; the interrelationship between work and family life and workplace-based case studies on occupation health and safety.
The centre sees its contribution to teaching and training being in several areas: development of a range of postgraduate courses catering for the specific needs of industrial relations practitioners; presentation of public seminars; seminars at academic conferences; professional development and establishment of links across the campuses. For more information telephone 9903 8700.
The Centre for Research in Accounting and Finance provides organisations in the private and public sectors with access to a research facility, and is available to undertake commissioned research projects. The centre promotes a range of related services in all the discipline areas covered by the Department of Accounting and Finance: financial accounting and reporting; management accounting; business finance; auditing; taxation law; company law and information systems.
The centre undertakes a range of other activities including workshops, professional development and in-house training courses, publication of books, monographs and research materials, preparation and distribution of software, preparation of technical material and advice and publication of workshop and professional development papers. For more information telephone 9905 2477
The Australian Systems Thinking and Organisational Learning Group (ASTOLg) was formed in 1993 to bring together a variety of related activities in the Department of Business Management at Caulfield campus. The overall aim of ASTOLg is to promote awareness of, and application of systems thinking and organisational learning theories and processes, to improve the on-going performance of organisations and communities as instruments for achieving enhanced economic and society goals. The group is largely self-funding and aims to generate funding to support its research and other activities.
Current research activities include the development of `learning organisations' with the hotel industry; modelling of corporate strategy and chaotic behaviour and the regulation of public utilities. The group is aiming to establish a number of cooperative learning clusters consisting of private and public sector organisations interested in sharing their learning and being involved in collaborative research. It also has a growing number of external individuals and organisation who subscribe to a range of services including a newsletter, networking opportunities and an annual conference. With generous support from the Myer Foundation a number of prominent national and international academics and practitioners visit the group each.
The group through the Department of Business Management is also responsible for the management of academic programs. Executive short courses are offered both publicly and on an in-house basis. Applied research and consultancy to organisations is also available. For more information telephone 9903 2491.
The Leadership Research Unit (LRU) was established in 1992. The unit forms the focus for leadership research and development activities, both for academic and industry-specific purposes.
Recent academic achievements include the publication of the Leadership Report Quarterly, a newsletter that addresses key leadership research initiatives in an easy to read, accessible fashion. The LRQ is sponsored by Ward Howell International and its subscription base is both national and international. The LRU is also engaged in promoting visits by international academics to the university for the purposes of stimulating research and development in leadership activities. Other leadership ventures include cross-cultural research with colleagues in the USA on a range of topics, the publication of leadership case studies, and contributions to major reviews of the leadership research activities on the past few years. The LRU continues to make linkages with key international leadership centres such as the Center for Creative Leadership (North Carolina) and the Center for Leadership Studies (University of New York, Binghamton), and is a conduit for much of the leadership research in Australia.
The LRU is responsible for stimulating leadership programs not only in the academic world but also the business community. Some of the more recent include a major interview survey of Australia's leading chief executives, in conjunction with Ward Howell International. This project is being published commercially in 1995 under the title Project CEO. Other consultancies include leadership workshops for private and public sector companies on various leadership related topics. For more information telephone 9904 4278
The unit provides research opportunities for staff members and students of the Department of Business Management in all aspects of quality management, including total quality management (TQM) and manufacturing/operations management. The unit has developed a unique partnership between the Department of Business Management and business enterprises in Victoria. These enterprises provide opportunities for staff and students to carry out research work on-site, enabling the sharing of information and ideas. The development of Australian case studies relating to quality management and manufacturing/operations management is a vital part of this activity. Current research projects include: impediments to the adoption of quality management in Australian industry; planning for new technology in Australian and New Zealand industries; production/operations executive quality and manufacturing performance; critical success factors and impediments to the implementation of industry strategic plans.
Professor Sohal is editor of a journal associated with the unit, entitled Asia Pacific Journal of Quality Management.
The David Syme Quality Management Research Unit also offers executive short-courses in quality management, both on-campus and on-site, and undertakes on-site research and consultancy. For more information telephone 9903 2033.
The Centre for Electronic Commerce (CEC) is a unique electronic commerce services organisation in Australia, combining the strengths of industry professionals with the academic infrastructure of the Gippsland School of Business, in establishing a national and international nucleus of expertise and education in the field of electronic commerce.
The CEC focus is to assist industry and government to benefit from the use of electronic commerce (including such areas as EDI, electronic banking and electronic mail) by providing a comprehensive and highly qualified range of independent consulting, training and research services helping managers, enterprises and communities come to terms with the business focus of electronic commerce technologies.
CEC clients include a number of Australian State governments, the Commonwealth Government, large private sector organisations, industry associations and small to medium business. The consulting and training staff of the CEC are experienced business professionals qualified in planning, strategy, implementation and ongoing management of applications of electronic commerce. Their work is complemented by the teaching and research staff of the Gippsland School of Business. Whilst the central office is located at the Gippsland campus, many CEC consultants are geographically independent of the centre itself, being located in major capital cities, electronically linked to Gippsland in a true application EC technology. For more information telephone (051) 226 508 or (03) 9906 508 or email joanne.fisher@buseco.monash.edu.au.
The Gippsland Research and Information Bank (GRIB) is a specialist centre which provides a range of economic, social and demographic statistics for the Gippsland region. It has a regional data base that can be accessed by academics, market researchers, local businesses, research students, libraries and government enterprises.
The Gippsland Research and Information Bank undertakes a wide range of consulting projects and has collaborated with academics, in the field of business on a number of research projects providing expertise in survey design and statistical analysis. It has a strong relationship with Gippsland local governments who make use of the staff and services of the information bank.
The Gippsland Research and Information Bank disseminates its information widely via a variety of publications including a quarterly profile of the region, economic indicators and social indicators. For more information telephone 9902 418.
Advisory board: Professor J Ratnatunga (Chair), Professor L West, Professor M Aitken, Mr M Aiken, Mr Qin Xiao and Mr W O'Shea
The Research Unit for Chinese Accounting and Finance provides a focus for the consolidation and enhancement of the university's research activities in Chinese accounting and finance. The research unit also acts as a gateway for professional activities through academic exchanges into China. The mission of the research unit is to promote and facilitate applied research in accounting and finance on China; coordinate the development of team research by various leading authorities in Australia and overseas; host visiting fellows and other visitors between China and Australia; sponsor the publication of an international journal on Chinese accounting and finance, and organise international conferences and seminars. For more information telephone 9903 2972.
Advisory board: Professor J Rickard, Mr A Pritchard, Mr R Cochrane, Mr J Levine, Professor J Ratnatunga, Professor C Romano, Mr K Wyatt and Mr E Waldmann
The Syme Monash Accounting Research and Training Centre (SMART) is an initiative of the Syme Department of Accounting. The centre provides a comprehensive range of professional training and educational services which are designed to meet the needs of the accounting profession and the community at large.
The centre is self-funding and its mission is to generate funding for independent research in the accounting discipline. This is achieved by developing training and development courses which are relevant to the needs of management and the professions and which are responsive to the needs of the marketplace; marketing the full range of SMART services in a professional manner to the target markets; and delivering these services in a timely and professional manner. For more information telephone 9903 2912.
Management committee: Dr J Wickramanayake, Ms A de Jonge and Ms J Gardiner
The Asian Business Research Unit (ABRU) is an initiative of the Syme Department of Banking and Finance to foster and give further impetus to the university's growing interest and expansion into the Asia-Pacific region. It supports the department's programs involving both teaching and research activities centred on international trade, international business and Asian-Pacific business. ABRU aims to develop a strong profile into Australian business strategies in fostering economic and trade links with the fast-growing Asia-Pacific Rim countries.
ABRU provides a forum on various aspects of Australian business and trade development Asia-Pacific economies through a series of seminars at both Peninsula and Caulfield campuses. For more information telephone 9904 4630.
Management committee: Dr K Wong and Professor J Chen, visiting fellow
The Asian Financial Review Unit was created to support the Syme Department of Banking and Finance's academic programs in banking and finance, international business and Asian business. As part of a package of mutually-supportive initiatives to assist departmental Asia-related publication, research and teaching efforts, the AFRU offers an up-to-date source of information and scholarship for students and staff.
Long-term goals of the AFRU are to establish firm continuing relationships with key educational and research organisations located strategically throughout the region. Achievement of these goals will be through the hosting of international graduate researchers and visiting scholars; the organisation of international conferences and through research and seminar series. For more information telephone 9903 2587.
Management committee: Professor M Skully and Mr M Vincent
The mission of the Australian Banking Research Unit (AuBRU) is to function as a link between the department and the finance sector to enhance banking research and ensure the growth of banking education and its relevance to the community.
The achievement of AuBRU's objectives and goals will be through industry-based seminar programs conducted in conjunction with dominant industry players; applied research in partnership with the industry; specialised programs utilising guests of significant importance and relevance to the industry; executive programs; conferences of an applied industry nature and through the development of the department and its research into the financial sector. For more information telephone 9903 2585.
Associate director: Mr Roger Love
Established at a cost of a million dollars, the David Syme Treasury Dealing Centre (DSTDC) provides educational facility options that are essential to maintaining pace with the rapidly changing business environment. The DSTDC has a computer-based simulated dealing room which replicates Australia's financial institutions.
The system integrates real-time financial data and a back-office assessment bringing together market information, development of strategies, communication and profitability. Market information is conveyed on one screen and multi-landline telephones are used to ascertain views about the expected outcomes from other participants - the Reserve Bank of Australia, banks, brokers and corporations.
The centre aims to enhance research in banking and finance, especially in the treasury related area; to pursue sponsorship which will promote research and to become self funded through the provision of specialist training courses to the banking and finance industry practitioners in the areas of treasury operations and management, domestic money market operation and foreign exchanges, synthetics, equities, portfolio and investment management, financial modelling and economic forecasting techniques.
In conjunction with the above the centre aims to attract distinguished scholars and policy makers from within Australia and overseas to participate in research and conferences and to engage in consultancy activities utilising the expertise of the members of the centre. For more information telephone 9903 2386 or 9903 2090.
Management committee: Mr R Guest, Mr W Gumley and Mr C Viney
The Syme Taxation Research Unit (STRU) was established by the Syme Department of Banking and Finance with a mandate to develop the taxation profile of the department. The unit's objectives are achieved through the promotion and development of taxation research; the provision of industry seminars and professional training on current taxation issues and by linking the department with both professionals involved in taxation issues and the taxation industry.
STRU is self-funded, generating revenue through the sale of publications and delivery of executive programs and seminars to industry professionals. For more information telephone 9904 4349.
Advisory board: Mr G Latta (Pacific Brands Food Group)(Chair), Mr I Backman (Linfox Distribution Group), Mr B Calder (Department of Primary Industry and Energy), Dr M Dalling (Strategic Industry Research Foundation), Dr N Evans International Wool Secretariat), Dr S Heilbron (SG Heilbron), Mr J Lawrenson (Australian Wheat Board), Mr A Morrison (F S Falkiner Pty Ltd), Mr M Taylor (Victorian Department of Food and Agriculture), Mr M Wheatley (Bunge), Professor John Rickard, Professor Peter FitzRoy and Mr M O'Keeffe.
The ARU aims to extend knowledge and improve practice in agribusiness marketing through research, education, and interchange. The overall objective of the unit is to assist Australian agribusiness in maintaining international competitiveness. This is achieved through support of academic research; promotion of industry - academic interaction; tailoring conceptual marketing developments to the unique needs of agribusiness; and providing tailored education and training. For more information telephone 9903 2307.
Advisory board : Mr P Sheppard, Chairman (Sheppards Footwear), Mr P. Davis, ACRS Visiting Executive, (Bunnings), Mr P Hosking (Coles Myer), Ms M Paidoussi (Portmans), Mr M Paterson (Retailers' Council of Australia and Grant Treasurer), Mr D Robertson (Tuckerbag), Mr M McRobert (David Jones), Ms D Bray (Countray Road), Mr E Deysel, Executive in Residence (Australia Post), Mr D Threlfall (Target), Associate Professor M Collins and Professor P FitzRoy.
The centre was established with the purpose of being an international provider of management education, training, development and research specifically tailored to meet the needs of the retail industry. The Retailers' Council of Australia has subsequently endorsed it as the Industry's centre of excellence.
The centre's major activities include the provision of a wide range of management development and retail courses offered both publicly and in-house. These comprise: store management; retail buying; advanced retail leadership; advanced retail negotiations; executive diploma in retail management; strategic planning and management in retailing; ACRS Diploma in Retail Studies; and a senior executive retail study tour to USA.
The centre undertakes research studies which have included reports on offshore retailing and the development of industry cases for teaching and management training. It is also responsible for the management of undergraduate retail courses, including the Bachelor of Business (Retail Management) by distance education.
The centre maintains close links with the retail industry and is substantially funded by industry. For more information telephone 903 2365.
This is a cross-faculty and cross-institutional centre. The centre's main purpose is research in the economics of education and training in Australia. The centre was established because of the need for more coherent and sustained research in the field.
The centre formalises links between researchers in different departments at Monash and at the Australian Council for Educational Research.
The centre is a designated national voctational education and training centre under the Australian National Training Authority, the only one so far given this distinction. For more information telephone 9905 2370.