Knowledge@Australian School of Business theBox

Managers are role models for smart phone use – and new research from the
Australian School of Business shows always-on cultures are hampering
productivity, effectively turning workers into "human pinballs" as they
bounce from one distraction to the next with no time to think. Setting a
poor example for technology use can send employees down the fast path
to burnout, with ambitious staffers particularly at risk of
over-engagement. While some individuals are turning off communication
devices or leaving them in the office, switched-on organisations are
pre-emptively tackling the issue.

Executives and managers confront a barrage of distractions from the big
picture. As the speed of change and communication in global business
generates incessant opportunities and threats, a clear corporate
strategy is more vital for long-term business success than ever. Smart
organisations know where they are heading and why. Some even divest
profitable operations just to stick to their plans. Doug Stace, a
strategy expert at the Australian School of Business, highlights why
strategy must be a day-to-day concern and not only an annual planning
event.

There's no training manual for how to manage multigenerational
workforces. Yet a new study from the Australian School of Business
covering four generational cohorts in five countries shows significant
differences in work values exist between age groups. Members of
Generation Y may be technologically adept, but their focus on leisure
strongly conflicts with Traditionalists' and Baby Boomers' hard-work
ethics. Adaptability is required all round. Some companies are actually
leveraging generational differences. And when initiatives are designed
to appeal to the "work-is-not-my-life" young ones, often more seasoned
colleagues also opt to get with the program.

Not-for-profit organisations often thrive on the strength of volunteers
so understanding what drives people to give time and effort free of
charge is vital. Typically, volunteering is considered a selfless,
empathetic activity, but quite often the "me" factor is at play. A new
study from the Australian School of Business shows the motivations of
volunteers vary greatly between age groups and indicates the need for
not-for-profits (NFPs) to profile their volunteer bases to understand
where gaps exist. Self-interested volunteers can work well, as long as
the NFP knows how to wrangle them.

The
collapse of a number of financial planning firms in recent years has dented
consumer confidence in financial advisers, but changes are afoot. The
government has tackled conflicts of interest with its Future of Financial
Advice reforms and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission has
proposed a national exam as an industry qualification. Moves to lift
educational requirements for financial planners had already been signalled by
the industry. This year, the Australian School of Business (ASB) commenced
degree courses in financial planning and has responded to an approach from Tim
Steele, director of AMP's Horizons Academy, which trains and licenses that
company's financial planners. Under a new agreement, eligible graduates from
AMP's Horizons program will be able to gain academic credit towards further
study at the ASB. Steele recently spoke with Knowledge@Australian School of
Business.

When a quarter of your workforce is heading for the door, it's time for
some serious strategic thinking. One Australian organisation is tackling
the outflow of thousands of mature-age workers by 2015 with a series of
policy changes and initiatives that not only glean vital information
for the employer, but also improve the prospects for wannabe retirees.
However, a one-size-fits-all policy approach will not be effective in
all cases, warn researchers from the Australian School of Business. And
collecting data on the intentions of a growing number of mature-age
workers and their effect on the workplace is proving complicated.