All Items on the topic Regional

1. 
   Regional Infrastructure: New Economic Development Opportunities for the Hunter, Illawarra and Western Sydney Regions (Research)
   May 2003 | National Economics; Austin Thompson & Associates; SGS; INSTATE
   How can some of Australia's oldest regional hubs be rejuvenated for improved economic performance?  This was the central question put to a series of decision makers at regional workshops in 2001.  A number of key insights were established which could help revive these regions to capture their share of growth in the increasingly globalised business environment including increasing investment in 'knowledge' infrastructure, like technology parks, industry clusters and education/business linkages that turn regions into hubs of high performance industries and focusing greater attention on infrastructure that connects people and places in and between regions, particularly transport and telecommunications, because of their role in stronger business and economic performance.

   The report also recommended better and more imaginative alignment of State and regional responsibilities for infrastructure planning and use and actions to build more effective partnerships between the public and private sectors for managing and financing infrastructure.

2. 
   Australia's Wine Industry: Collaboration & Learning as Causes of Competitive Success (Research)
   May 2000 | Professor Ian Marsh, ANZSOG Chair of Public Management, University of Sydney; Brendan Shaw, AGSM, University of New South Wales

   No one can deny the global competitive success of the Australian wine industry, going from net importer to renowned exporter of high quality wines in just over a decade.   But what are the ingredients of this success?  Paradoxically, the ability to build premium global brands from formerly domestic commodity products has been the result of extensive collaboration among competitors in the industry. 

   Through deliberate strategic planning, the industry shifted orientation towards global markets, evidenced by a large number of firms participating in export markets.  By harnessing knowledge within the industry, firms can embrace technical innovations in production, enabling them to respond quickly to changing tastes and demands from the diverse global market.  While strategic collaboration has provided the framework for success, ongoing engagement as an industry of diverse competitors is required to sustain a competitive advantage.