The Centre for Leadership and Knowledge Management

Knowledge loss and supply chain efficiency within the Department of Defence, knowledge turnaround strategies and knowledge leadership are just some of the research areas being scrutinised by the Centre for Knowledge Management.

Established in mid 2003, the Centre aims to become a Centre of Research Excellence for the Faculty. It has quickly established a promising profile, largely based on industry partnerships developed since 2001 by Centre Director, Dr Peter Massingham.

A significant knowledge loss project with the Department of Defence addresses the growing problem in Australian public sector organisations over the loss of corporate knowledge caused through employee turnover. The problem now presents a serious corporate risk throughout the public service due to its ageing demographic. The project will explore the problem of downsizing rather than issues relating to employee turnover. The impact of loss of tacit knowledge on the orgnaisation's social capital and on its technical capability within a regulatory framework is a central issue.

Currently funded as a pilot study under a New Industry Partnership Grant, it is planned to extend the project as an ongoing concern. Peter Massingham has submitted an ARC Linkage Grant Application to allow his work with the Department of Defence to continue over the next three years.

He is also working with Professor John Gattorna from the Supply Chain Research Centre on a supply chain project for the Department of Defence; with Associate Professor Helen Hasan and Colin Greig on knowledge turnaround strategies; and with Dr George Kriflick on knowledge leadership.

The Centre has alliances with key industry partners including, the David Morgan Williams Group (DMW), David Miers & Associated, and AKEP Consulting Services. The Centre has also established an alliance with the Centre for Leadership Studies at the University of Exeter (England) which is a world's best research centre on leadership.

The Centre supports several PhD, Masters, and Honours students as well as having access to the following staff resources: Dr Peter Massingham, Dr Karin Garrety, Dr George Kriflik, Mr Peter McLean, Mr Michael Gross, Mr Colin Greig, all of whom have strong industry experience.

The Centre recently bid for a major contract to conduct Leadership Training for the Department of Defence.

The Centre of Leadership and Knowledge Management has the following structure, which provides details on the range of activities involving the Centre: