CIMA has established a new centre of excellence (COE) for Australasia in Sydney to engage innovative research being undertaken in the local region. The COE will collaborate with universities, the public sector and key industry players in this region to ensure the areas of research and related outputs are market driven and relevant.
Outputs will include research reports and cutting edge tools and techniques that will address issues raised by the industry. These solutions will be vital in guiding critical business decisions and driving strong performance in financial and operational reality.
The research, which will be led by CIMA, will help to develop the CIMA brand within the accounting field in this region as well as increase awareness of the benefits of using management accounting tools and concepts to gain competitive edge. It will also provide CIMA with a better understanding of employers’ needs in the region and help develop a truly global industry relevant syllabus and CPD resources appropriate for local use.
How will the COE work?
The COE will adopt the same strategy as CIMA’s research and development department and strive to ensure the same level of high calibre, industry and member relevant research that CIMA already produces.
The COE will issue a call for research grant applications twice a year. These initiatives will only be available to locally based academics or practitioners.
Agreed research outputs will be published on the CIMA website.
2013 research grant scheme (round one)
CIMA is pleased to announce the 2013 first call for innovative research proposals from researchers in Australia and New Zealand. No specific thematic areas are proposed for this round of research grants, though applicants may wish to consider aligning their projects to one of the following areas:
- Corporate sustainability, including environmental management accounting.
- Performance management and strategy implementation.
- Resilient business models: what they are and how to develop them.
- Risk and innovation.
Deadline for proposal submissions: Wednesday 1 May 2013
For more information, please download the COE Australasia research initiative flyer (PDF 105KB).
How to apply
To apply for the research grant, please download the application form (Word document 154KB), guidance notes (PDF 129KB) and sample contract (PDF 70KB).
Projects awarded grants in 2012
Judgemental effects of risk representation in strategic performance measurement systems (Axel Schulz (Principal Researcher) and Kristian Rotaru, Monash University)
The study examines the role that the explicit representation of risk in strategic performance measurement systems plays in managerial decision-making behaviour under conditions of high environmental uncertainty and risk. By exploring the nature and effect of such cognitive factors as managerial risk perception and risk propensity this study will provide empirical evidence for the relationship between the adoption of risk-adjusted strategic performance measurement systems and managerial risky decision-making behaviour.
Risk and innovation: the role of management control systems (Bruce Gurd (Principal Researcher), Christine Helliar, Margaret Woods and Maqsood Memon, University of South Australia)
This project will produce an Australian risk management case that focuses on innovation and risk. Using a single organisation as a research site, the researchers will concentrate on the connection between both product and process innovation from the strategy processes and risk management.
The properties of sustainability performance measures: drivers and consequences (Aldónio Ferreira (Principal Researcher) and Prabanga Thoradeniya, Monash University)
This project aims to support organisational sustainability practices and enhance value creation by improving the effectiveness of PMS. It is widely accepted that performance measurement is an essential part of performance management, although this implicitly assumes that the information conveyed by performance measures is trustworthy and reliable.
Accountants’ contribution to achieving operational sustainability for Australian not-for-profit organisations (Stuart Tooley (Principal Researcher), Helen Irvine, Chris Ryan and Janet Mack, Queensland University of Technology)
The significant contribution of the NFP sector to Australian society has increased focus on the sustainability of the sector. There is therefore a growing need for management accountants who have the necessary knowledge and skills to direct the strategies and operations of NFP organisations to achieve sustainable performance.
Research panel
The panel in the Australasia region is represented by:
- Professor David Smith, Monash University – COE Chair
- Professor Deryl Northcott, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) - COE Selection Committee Chair
- Dr. Davood Askarany, Auckland University
- Professor David Brown, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- Associate Professor Mandy Cheng, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- Professor Roger Burritt, University of South Australia
- Professor Nonna Martinov-Bennie, Macquarie University
More thought leadership
See the latest CGMA and CIMA innovation tools and reports.