Innovative efforts of Australian business managers studied

Innovative efforts of Australian business managers studied

A University of Queensland researcher is studying how much effort Australian business managers put into building and nurturing innovative capabilities compared to their counterparts in America.

Dr Jay Weerawardena of the Graduate School of Management within the UQ Business School says the study has important implications for Australian government policy planners, particularly considering limited Australian research on innovation.

'I am looking at how the differences in innovative capabilities impact on firms' efforts to gain sustained competitive advantage in the two countries and if culture has a role in the differences in American and Australian businesses,' Dr Weerawardena said.

'According to research findings, Australia's GDP per capita is 30 per cent behind the best performing country, America. This gap is attributed to the differences in innovation in the two countries.

'Therefore a study that investigates the differences in innovative capabilities in the two countries will be immensely useful to both the policy planners and firms that are pursuing innovation as the key strategy to gain competitive advantage.'

The cross-cultural study is an extension of a major study completed by Dr Weerawardena last year into the innovation activity of business organisations in Queensland.

Large and small manufacturing firms participated in the study, which showed that Australian firms, in addition to traditional product and process innovations, pursue non-technological innovations that include marketing methods and managerial systems.

'Queensland firms excelling in innovation are active learners and are highly entrepreneurial in their strategic decisions,' Dr Weerawardena said.

The findings of both studies will provide valuable information for government policy planners to encourage innovation in the Australian manufacturing industry.

For more information, contact Dr Weerawardena on 07 3365 6674 or Brad Turner at UQ Communications on 07 3365 2659 or email us at communications@mailbox.uq.edu.au.