Regulating for innovation and competitiveness

BLT Participants: Professor Chris Arup, Dr Anthony Forsyth, Professor Richard Mitchell

External Participants: Dr Peter Gahan (Department of Management, Monash University), Dr John Howe, Law Faculty University of Melbourne, Professor Richard Johnstone, Griffith University

Outline

The link between regulation and the development of highly innovative workplace arrangements in businesses has not been clearly established. This research team is seeking to identify whether such a connection exists, and if it does, what form of regulation is suitable for the promotion of high performance practices and cooperative arrangements for workplace information, consultation and partnership within corporate enterprises.

Commencing with a literature review, later stages of the project will involve case studies of Victorian firms that have pursued innovative strategies for employee/union collaboration; evaluating the success (or otherwise) of the Victorian Government's "Partners at Work" Grants Scheme; and an assessment of other regulatory tools adopted in Australia and internationally to drive innovative, partnership-oriented workplace relations mechanisms within firms.

Current and proposed activities

2007

• Project team submitted application for ARC Discovery Grant in the 2007 round.

2006

• Regulating for Innovation in Workplace Production and Employment Systems: A Preliminary Discussion of Issues and Themes.  Paper for the 3rd Australian Labour Law Association National Conference, Brisbane, 22-23 September 2006, by A Forsyth, P Gahan, J Howe and R Mitchell

2005

• Dr Anthony Forsyth awarded $10,000 Faculty New Academic Staff Grant to commence work on this project.

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Group Director

Anthony Forsyth
Email Anthony Forsyth
Tel: + 61 3 9903-2917