While technical and scientific capabilities are recognised as critical, there is a growing awareness that innovation also requires people who understand business, systems, culture and the way society uses and adopts new ideas. Business innovation and productivity therefore requires the interaction of a broad range of technical and non-technical capabilities. International studies have found that while building capabilities is a high strategic priority for companies and the required capabilities have evolved, the methods for building those capabilities have not. This project seeks to examine the way that Australia’s high-performing enterprises identify, manage, build and mix the capabilities to succeed.
“These enterprises have excelled in their fields by taking a long-term strategic approach to attracting and building a diverse and inclusive workforce, capable of fostering individual talent and driving business-wide success.”
Professor Stuart Cunningham / Chair of the Expert Working Group
Launch of Skills and capabilities for Australian enterprise innovation
Skills and Capabilities for Australian enterprise innovation, was launched by the Chief Scientist of Australia, Dr Alan Finkel AO FTSE, at the State Library of Victoria, Melbourne on Thursday 21 July 2016.
ACOLA, for its established ability to deliver interdisciplinary evidence-based research that draws on specialist expertise from Australia’s Learned Academies, convenes the SAF10 Expert Working Group (EWG) to guide the development of a targeted study that draws input from several disciplines to create a well-considered, balanced and peer-reviewed report.
The role of the EWG is to provide strategic oversight and provide expert input, analysis and provocative thinking.
- Professor Stuart Cunningham (Chair)
- Professor Peter Gahan (Deputy)
- Ken Boal
- Professor Victor Callan
- Professor Tam Sridhar
- Christine Zeitz
- Professor Stuart Cunningham
- Dr Max Theilacker
- Professor Peter Gahan
- Professor Victor Callan
- Professor Al Rainnie
- Dr Genevieve Bell
- Emeritus Professor Malcolm Gillies
- Dr Graham Mitchell
- Dr Chris Roberts
- Mr Raymond Spencer
Project Manager: Dr Kylie Brass, Australian Academy of the Humanities
The Expert Working Group is grateful to the experts who contributed to this project by participating in discussions, interviews and written inputs. People who contributed through interviews and consultations are listed under Evidence gathering.
Project management services were provided by the Australian Academy of Humanities, Dr Kylie Brass, on behalf of the ACOLA Secretariat.
These contributions are gratefully acknowledged.
The Expert Working Group thanks Dr Will Howard and Ryan Herbert, Office of the Chief Scientist, for guidance and advice throughout the project, and the ACOLA Secretariat, Mr Andy Jones and Ms Navi Randhawa, for their assistance.
Our thanks also to M. Amin Khaliqi from the Centre for Workplace Leadership for his assistance in reviewing the literature and identifying case organisations.
