Feature
Issue No. 36 - August/September 2007
Igniting business growth in SA
The recently released book, The First XI: Winning Organisations in Australia examines 11 of Australia's most successful businesses and uncovers their secrets to greatness.
Written by a respected team of business practitioners and academics - Professor Graham Hubbard, Delyth Samuel, Graeme Cocks and Simon Heap - the book provides specific insight into the key factors that exemplify our top organisations.
However, out of the 11 companies profiled, only one of these winning companies was founded in South Australia.
So, what's holding South Australian companies back from becoming big players in the national and international markets?
According to Chris Gebhardt, William Buck Business Advisory Director, there's no reason our local businesses cannot become big national players.
"Fortunately, the climate for business growth is changing fast in South Australia.
“Traditionally, South Australian businesses have been a bit more conservative than those in the eastern States. We tend to have a softly, softly approach and take a more measured, progressive method for business growth.
“Many businesses in South Australia like to have everything lined up before growing a business or jumping into a new market area. However, businesses do seem to be moving gradually outside this comfort zone and are more willing to undertake faster business growth.
"Our business sectors are shifting rapidly with the emergence of major growth industries including defence, mining, electronics, aged care services, housing and real estate development, along with the evolution of our manufacturing and agribusiness industries.
"At William Buck we're finding many of our clients are becoming more aggressive about their business plans to expand and eventually lead a particular market within Australia or even overseas.
"We're also noticing that companies experiencing rapid growth exhibit certain 'success' characteristics,...
