Suzanne Young
La Trobe University, La Trobe B usiness School, Faculty Member
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We examine the effect of independent directors’ (IDs’) heterogeneous directorships on performance and diversification of high growth firms in a sample of 1152 firm-year Australian listed company observations over the period 2007 to 2010.... more
We examine the effect of independent directors’ (IDs’) heterogeneous directorships on performance and diversification of high growth firms in a sample of 1152 firm-year Australian listed company observations over the period 2007 to 2010. We find a positive association between some measures of IDs’ heterogeneous directorships and the firm performance of high-growth firms as measured by return on assets. We also find a positive association between IDs’ heterogeneous board ties and firm diversification. This study highlights that decisions concerning the appointment of IDs to corporate boards should be based on the strategic context of their other directorships. We extend the literature on multiple directorships by showing that it is not a narrow focus on the number of directorships as a proxy for reputation or busyness that matters. Instead, it is the precise nature of these directorships.
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is based on the widely held belief that modern business corporations are responsible not only to their shareholders and investors, but to a wide range of stake...
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Prior research has overlooked board processes and examined direct links between board structure and monitoring financial reporting with mixed results. We use an input–process–output heuristic model to argue that board processes mediate... more
Prior research has overlooked board processes and examined direct links between board structure and monitoring financial reporting with mixed results. We use an input–process–output heuristic model to argue that board processes mediate the association between board structure and earnings persistence. Our results support this assertion by showing the mediating effect of board processes and the impact on managerial behaviour in relation to monitoring financial reporting. We contribute to the accounting and finance literature by demonstrating the importance of examining alternative theoretical models and board-process variables, along with structure. This article also highlights the importance of establishing best-practice guidelines around board processes in governance regulations. JEL Classification: M41, G34
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Prior research in accounting and finance mainly focused on the impact of board structure on financial reporting quality and findings have been mixed and ambiguous. We examine the impact of board processes on financial reporting quality.... more
Prior research in accounting and finance mainly focused on the impact of board structure on financial reporting quality and findings have been mixed and ambiguous. We examine the impact of board processes on financial reporting quality. From a theoretical stance, we argue that application of agency theory alone does not adequately explain the dynamics of board behavior around accounting issues. Instead, boards need to be viewed from a social-psychological process related to group participation and interaction. Our examination of archival and survey data, in 184 ASX companies, revealed that effort norms, and use of knowledge and skills, are positively and significantly related to financial reporting quality, whereas cognitive conflicts have a curvilinear relationship. We also apply group’s input-process-output heuristic model and find that board processes mediate the association between board structure and financial reporting quality. Our findings inform researchers, practitioners and policy makers that in addition to board structure, processes are also important for effective monitoring of financial reporting.
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Research Interests: Business()
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the topic and review the contributions of the special issue papers on cross-sector dialogue for sustainability. The paper also presents avenues for further research.... more
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce the topic and review the contributions of the special issue papers on cross-sector dialogue for sustainability. The paper also presents avenues for further research. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on a review of the current literature on cross-sector partnership and dialogue. It explores the current issues in cross-sector partnerships through a discussion of the papers accepted for the special issue, their focus, findings and key contributions. Findings It highlights three main key research themes and learnings from the special issue papers: a high level of “hybridity” of collaboration forms, which involve important tensions; a need to understand partnership in its context and the importance of the individual level in cross-sector collaboration. Practical implications The authors call for attention to be paid to two forms of myopia: a tendency to view partnerships primarily from a resource-based view (without much att...
Research Interests: Business, Sociology, Economics, Public Relations, Dialogue, and 3 moreOriginality, Sustainability, and CSR
... be effective, managers need workable HR policies and to be successfully applied HR policies need managers ... and understanding the interactions of managerial hierarchical levels within the organization's HR... more
... be effective, managers need workable HR policies and to be successfully applied HR policies need managers ... and understanding the interactions of managerial hierarchical levels within the organization's HR system is ... A Critical Assessment of the High-performance Paradigm. ...
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... Leanne Morris, Pauline Stanton and Suzanne Young Performance Management in Higher Education Development versus Control 18-32 ... Stephen Weller and Bernadine Van Gramberg Attitudes Towards Workplace Change in the Australian Higher... more
... Leanne Morris, Pauline Stanton and Suzanne Young Performance Management in Higher Education Development versus Control 18-32 ... Stephen Weller and Bernadine Van Gramberg Attitudes Towards Workplace Change in the Australian Higher Education Sector: a tale of ...
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This paper aims to explore the attitudes of managers and employees to high performance work practices (HPWS) in a medium sized rural Australian hospital. The study consists of two stages. Stage one involved a qualitative investigation... more
This paper aims to explore the attitudes of managers and employees to high performance work practices (HPWS) in a medium sized rural Australian hospital. The study consists of two stages. Stage one involved a qualitative investigation consisting of interviews and focus group sessions with senior, middle and line management at the hospital. Bowen and Ostroffs framework was used to examine how strategic HRM was understood, interpreted and operationalised across the management hierarchy. Stage one investigates the views of managers concerning the implementation of strategic HRM/HPWS. Stage two consisted of a questionnaire administered to all hospital employees. The mediation effects of social identification on the relationship between high performance work systems and affective commitment and job satisfaction are examined. The purpose of stage two was to investigate the views and effects of SHRM/HPWS on employees. It should be noted that HPWS and strategic HRM are used inter-changeably...
Research Interests: Focus Groups, Performance Management, Human Resource Management, Australia, Job Satisfaction, and 14 moreHealth, Humans, Focus Group, Design Methodology, Workload, High performance, High Performance Work Systems, Organizational Innovation, Affective Commitment, Performance management systems, Work Practice, Organizational case studies, Medical and Health Sciences, and Nursing team
This paper examines why large Australian organizations’ response to climate change is often muted despite increasing regulatory, stakeholder and societal pressure to respond. Through adopting a qua...
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This paper examines why large Australian organizations’ response to climate change is often muted despite increasing regulatory, stakeholder and societal pressure to respond. Through adopting a qua...
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Abstract: Since the late 1980s higher education in Australia has been the focus of major restructure and reform in a search for greater efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. A key component has been performance management of... more
Abstract: Since the late 1980s higher education in Australia has been the focus of major restructure and reform in a search for greater efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. A key component has been performance management of academic staff with performance appraisals being ...
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Abstract: Since the late 1980s higher education in Australia has been the focus of major restructure and reform in a search for greater efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. A key component has been performance management of... more
Abstract: Since the late 1980s higher education in Australia has been the focus of major restructure and reform in a search for greater efficiency, effectiveness and accountability. A key component has been performance management of academic staff with performance appraisals being ...
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ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between the strategic context of independent directors’ (IDs’) board ties and firm financial performance for a sample of Australian listed firms over 2007-2010. Resource dependence theory is... more
ABSTRACT This study examines the relationship between the strategic context of independent directors’ (IDs’) board ties and firm financial performance for a sample of Australian listed firms over 2007-2010. Resource dependence theory is used to examine IDs’ networks and its impact on firm performance measured by Return on assets (ROA). Employing multiple regression models our results show that IDs’ strategically related board ties are positively associated with firm performance in stable environments. Our results also show a positive association between IDs’ strategically heterogeneous board ties and firms’ ROA in unstable environments. These findings suggest that directors’ firm-environment specific knowledge, expertise and information gained through board ties enhance firm performance. The practical implications are that the strategic context of IDs’ other directorships should be an important factor in decisions concerning the appointment of independent directors to corporate boards.
ABSTRACT Sustainable procurement is a growing phenomenon and a key component of organizations’ corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy. The focus of this paper is sustainable procurement (SP) at universities in Australia and... more
ABSTRACT Sustainable procurement is a growing phenomenon and a key component of organizations’ corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy. The focus of this paper is sustainable procurement (SP) at universities in Australia and the United Kingdom. The study identifies a dearth of academic research into SP at universities and presents actionable insights gained from practitioners. Results from qualitative data collected from Australian and UK universities highlight the continued dominance of price in procurement decisions and the practical challenges faced in changing the status quo both internal and external to the university. Implications for theory, research and policy are also presented.
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Abstract In the last two decades, globalisation has become the major focus of debates generating considerable interest and controversy. The global dominance of transnational corporations has created new economic foundations and great... more
Abstract In the last two decades, globalisation has become the major focus of debates generating considerable interest and controversy. The global dominance of transnational corporations has created new economic foundations and great wealth at a time when the societies still ...