Field-Based Business Consulting Practice in Australian University Commerce Education

Abstract

This paper deals with the role of field-based consultancy in Australian commerce education. Field-based consultancy is a form of service learning which is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. This paper replicates the methodology of a previous American study and extends it to an Australian context. A large-scale Internet study of university web sites resulted in the identification of administrative personnel, with similar organizational responsibilities to AACSB deans in U.S. business schools, at 41 Australian universities. A total of 157 heads of Commerce programs were identified. Each was sent a survey questionnaire, with a second mailing approximately two weeks later. A total of 71 were received, yielding a response rate of 45%. Analyses of the responses to the Australian survey indicate a very similar penetration of field-based methodology to that found in the United States. It appears that field-based consultancy, which is very appropriate for small business education, is being used to a wide degree in both American and Australian universities. Given the similarity of the survey responses, Australian higher education, the Australian economy, and the lack of a major language barrier, this result suggests the possibility of implementing international field-based consultancies between American and Australian universities.