Based on a collection of auto-ethnographic narratives that reflect our experiences as academic mothers at an Australian university, this paper seeks to illustrate the impact of COVID-19 on our career cycles in order to explore alternative feminist models of progression and practice in Higher Education. Collectively, we span multiple disciplines, parenting profiles, and racial/ethnic backgrounds. Our narratives (initiated in 2019) explicate four focal points in our careers as a foundation for analyzing self-definitions of professional identity: pre-and post-maternity career break; and pre-and post-COVID-19 career. We have modeled this research on a collective feminist research practice that is generative and empowering in terms of self-reflective models of collaborative research. Considering this practice and these narratives, we argue for a de-centering of masculinized career cycle patterns and progression pathways both now and beyond COVID-19. This represents both a challenge to neo-liberal norms of academic productivity, as well as a call to radically enhance institutional gender equality policies and practice.

The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) presents many opportunities and challenges in a digitised world of work. This paper draws on a systematic literature review of recent research published by accounting professional bodies outlining the impact of digital technologies on the accounting profession. By taking advantage of this work this study critically assesses the types of skills and personal qualities that graduates as future accountants will need and explores the implications for accounting education and university curricula. The analysis reveals that necessary skills for future accountants may be summarised into four categories: (a) Ethical skills; (b) Digital skills; (c) Business skills; and (d) Soft skills. The analysis reveals 'adaptability' and 'lifelong approach to CPD' as the two essential personal qualities for future accountants. The practical implications for university accounting education are summarised in a proposed conceptual framework. The proposed conceptual framework: (1) acts as a roadmap for universities to align their accounting curricula with the developments in professional body syllabi; (2) helps university accounting education teachers to update, enrich, and refocus their teaching and learning approach to the requirements of the 4IR; and (3) promotes the coordination and rationalisation of the skills and personal qualities currently pursued by employability agendas at university, course, and module levels.

Purpose- Garment employee productivity in Bangladesh is the lowest compared to its competitors such as China, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry will find it a challenge to survive in the global market unless they improve employee productivity. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to observe the relationship among wages and benefits, welfare facilities, employee work motivation and employee productivity. Design/Methodology/Approach- The study was conducted under the positivism philosophy for which Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory was used for framing the hypotheses. A deductive approach, explanatory research design and a quantitative methodology was followed in order to conduct the study. Through a questionnaire survey, twenty-five items were taken from existing literature to measure the variables. By a systematic probability sampling technique, 500 samples were collected from the target population. Thereafter, SPSS and SEM using Smart-PLS were utilised for analysing and developing the model. Findings- The outcome of the analysis revealed that all seven hypotheses were supported. Practical Implications- These findings will assist the policymakers, the government of Bangladesh, factory owners, managers and other stakeholders to formulate new policies and practices. Originality/Value- This study explores the relationship among wages and benefits, welfare facilities, employee work motivation and employee productivity which has not been explored theoretically and tested empirically in a Bangladeshi context. In the future, comparative research can be carried out by collecting samples from the EPZ (Export Processing Zone) and non-EPZ factories.

Broad economic and social reform, rapid technological change and increasing global competition have meant that organisations must consider all aspects of their business model in order to successfully create and capture ongoing customer value. In this study it is proposed that business model innovation must always consider and incorporate the symbiotic and interdependent relationship that stakeholders have with an organisation. One particular aspect of economic reform, privatisation, has become an important driver of economic growth in many economies, particularly when linked with the rapid growth of air travel. Privatisation of an airport can generate a radical change in the overall business model for the airport owner and the various stakeholders involved in the operation of the airport. Sydney Airport has restructured its overarching business model to meet the demands of stakeholders. Using feedback from key stakeholders, this research examines the generally accepted view that airport privatisation leads to an improvement in airport performance. Chesbrough's Business Model Framework provides a lens to assist the analysis of Sydney Airport operations before and after privatisation, and provides valuable insights into the impact of privatisation on business model innovation.

PurposeThe paper examines the nexus between agricultural exports and the performance of agricultural firms in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe dynamic linkage is tested by using system GMM models and the period ranges from 2002 to 2016.FindingsThe results indicate that agricultural exports affect performance positively. However, agricultural raw materials have no significant impact on performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe agricultural exports in relation to sectoral performance needs to be considered in the future.Practical implicationsThe findings are important for policymakers to formulate policies that promote the agricultural sector. To put it differently, the policies may encourage investments in this sector. Also, the findings have substantial academic implications, bridging the gap between theory and empirical literature in the agricultural sector.Originality/valueThis work highlights the agricultural exports and their impacts on a firm's performance.