How Big Business Performs Private Performance and Public Policy Analysing the Profits of Australia's Largest Enterproses Drawing on the Unique Data of Ibis Business Informat

9781864488678

1864488670

'I highly recommend this book.' Dr. Peter Jonson, Chairman, ANZ Funds Management'A timely reminder of the major contribution big business makes to Australia's welfare by way of jobs, exports and national production. This book rightly emphasises the dynamic interdependence of big and small business and brings out the real value of innovation and focus in competitive business performance.' David Buckingham, Executive Director, Business Council of AustraliaThe role of big business is an important, and sometimes emotive, topic in any discussion of the state of the nation. Big businesses dominate the Australian economy. They are, directly and indirectly, major generators of economic growth, jobs and export earnings. Big businesses also possess a degree of market power that may enable them to act in ways that raise major issues of public policy. Thus it is important to understand what makes big businesses perform well or poorly. Is diversifying a company's activities a useful strategy to improve its performance? What management practices are distinctive to successful firms? Is monopoly power a significant issue in the Australian economy and a determinant of how business performs? Does current competition policy promote better performance?This book provides a systematic set of analyses of how Australian big business performs, using the unique and rich data collated by IBIS Business Information Systems. In How Big Business Performs a team of skilled contributors analyse the key determinants of big business success, from aggregate economic and industry conditions to strategic direction and management practices at the company level.Peter Dawkins is Director and Michael Harris a Research Fellow at the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research within the University of Melbourne. Stephen King is a Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne. Contributors: Derek Bosworth, Tim Brailsford, Peter Dawkins, Robert Dixon, Simon Feeny, Ian Gow, Mark Harr