The University of Western Australia

Professor Kerrie Unsworth

Deputy Head of Discipline/Professor
Management and Organisations

Contact details

Address

Management and Organisations
The University of Western Australia (M261)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

6488 7224

Fax

6488 1004

Email

kerrie.unsworth@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

BSc Qld, PhD Sheff.

Biography

Dr Kerrie Unsworth is Associate Professor at the UWA Business School. After getting her Honours degree in Psychology at the University of Queensland in 1994, she worked at a number of organisations across the UK. Kerrie then worked and studied at the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield and obtained a PhD there in 2001. Her PhD was based on increasing the creativity and innovativeness of design engineers in Rolls Royce plc and BAE Systems.

Kerrie came back to Australia in 2002 and worked at Queensland University of Technology, before moving to the University of Western Australia Business School in 2008.

Her research focuses on improving employee motivation, creativity and well-being. She has won over $1.6 million in funding and has been cited over 800 times in academic journals.

A training program that came out of an ARC Discovery grant (PositiveU) is now a successfully commercialised program being used by many private and public sector organisations. Please contact the Australian Institute of Management for more details on enrolling in or using this program. Modified versions have also been incorporated into the curricula at UWA and at QUT as well as at high schools such as Perth College.

Finally, Kerrie is Associate Editor of the international top-tier Journal of Organizational Behavior, Treasurer for the Managerial and Organizational Cognition Division of the Academy of Management, and is a regular reviewer for other journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Management Studies, and Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. She is the Deputy Head of Discipline for Management & Organizations Discipline within the UWA Business School.

Key research

Organizational behaviour

Goal hierarchy and motivation

Self-leadership

Well-being

Creativity & innovation

Publications

Career 10 best

Axtell, C.M., Holman, D.J., Unsworth, K.L., Wall, T.D., Waterson, P.E. & Harrington, E. (2000). Shopfloor innovation: Facilitating the suggestion and implementation of ideas. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 73(3), 265-286.

Unsworth, K.L. (2001). Unpacking creativity. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 286-297.

Clegg, C.W., Unsworth, K.L., Epitropaki, O., & Parker, G. (2002). Implicating trust in the innovation process. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 75(4), 409-422.

Unsworth, K.L., Wall, T.D., & Carter, A.J. (2005). Creativity requirement: A neglected construct in the field of employee creativity. Group & Organization Management, 30(5), 541-560.

Carroll, A., Houghton, S., Wood, R., Unsworth, K.L., Hattie, J., Gordon, L., & Bower, J. (2009). Self-efficacy and academic achievement in Australian high school students: The mediating effects of academic aspirations and delinquency. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 797-817.

Unsworth, K.L., & Clegg, C.W. (2010). Why do employees undertake creative action? Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology, 83(1), 77-99.

Unsworth, K.L., Turner, N., Williams, H.M., & Piccin-Houle, S. (2010). Giving thanks: The relational context of gratitude in postgraduate supervision. Studies in Higher Education, 35(8), 871-888.

Unsworth, K.L., & Mason, C.M. (in press). Help yourself: The mechanisms through which a self-leadership intervention influences strain. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. Accepted 25th October, 2011.

Unsworth, K.L., Adriasola, E., Johnston-Billings, A., Dmitrieva, A., & Hodkiewicz, M. (in press). Goal hierarchy: Improving asset data quality by improving motivation. Reliability Engineering & System Safety. Accepted 4th June, 2011. DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2011.06.003

Day, D.V., & Unsworth, K.L. (in press). Goals and self-regulation: Emerging perspectives across levels and time. In E. Locke and G. Latham (Eds.), New developments in goal-setting and performance. Taylor & Francis.


Recent Publications

Book Chapters

1.Day, D.V., & Unsworth, K.L. (in press). Goals and self-regulation: Emerging perspectives across levels and time. In E. Locke and G. Latham (Eds.), New developments in goal-setting and performance. Taylor & Francis.

2.Unsworth, K.L., & Parker, S.K. (2003). Proactivity and Innovation: Promoting a new workforce for the new workplace. In D. Holman, T.D. Wall, C. Clegg, P. Sparrow, and A. Howard (Eds), The New Workplace: People, Technology and Organization. A Handbook and Guide to the Human Impact of Modern Working Practices (pp.175-196). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

3.Unsworth, K.L., & West, M.A. (1999). Teams: The challenges of cooperative work. In N.Chmiel (Ed.), Introduction to Work & Organizational Psychology (pp.137-146). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

4.West, M.A., Borrill, C.S., & Unsworth, K.L. (1998). Team effectiveness in organizations. In C. Cooper & I. Robertson (Eds.), International Review of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

Reprinted in C. Cooper & I. Robertson (Eds.), Organizational Psychology and Development: A Reader for Students and Practitioners. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.

5.West, M.A., & Unsworth, K.L. (1998). Developing a team vision. In G.M. Parker (Ed.), Handbook of Best Practices for Teams (Vol 2) (pp.295-310). NJ: HRD Press.

6.West, M.A., & Unsworth, K.L (1997). Innovate to survive. Reference Book for Employers, 3, 13-17.


Journal Articles (Schol Refereed Journal)

Unsworth, K.L., & Mason, C.M. (in press). Help yourself: The mechanisms through which a self-leadership intervention influences strain. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. Accepted 27th October, 2011.

Murphy, G., Chang, A., & Unsworth, K.L. (in press). Differential effects of ERP systems on user outcomes. New Technology Work & Employment. Accepted 21st September, 2011.

Unsworth, K.L., Sawang, S., Murray, J., Sorbello, T., & Norman, P. (2012). Understanding innovation adoption: Effects of orientation, pressure and control on adoption intentions. International Journal of Innovation Management, 16(1), . DOI: 10.1142/S1363919611003593

Unsworth, K.L., Adriasola, E., Johnston-Billings, A., Dmitrieva, A., & Hodkiewicz, M. (2011). Goal hierarchy: Improving asset data quality by improving motivation. Reliability Engineering & System Safety, 96, 1474-1481.

Sawang, S., & Unsworth, K.L. (2011). Why adopt now? Multiple case studies and survey studies comparing small, medium and large firms. Technovation: The International Journal of Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology Management, 31(10-11), 554-559.

Sawang, S., & Unsworth, K.L. (2011). A model of organizational innovation implementation effectiveness in small to medium firms. International Journal of Innovation Management, 15(5), 989–1011.

Unsworth, K.L., Turner, N., Williams, H.M., & Piccin-Houle, S. (2010). Giving thanks: The relational context of gratitude in postgraduate supervision. Studies in Higher Education, 35(8), 871-888.

Unsworth, K.L., Rogelberg, S., & Bonilla, D. (2010). Emotional expressive writing to alleviate euthanasia-related stress. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 51(7), 775-777.

Unsworth, K.L., & Clegg, C.W. (2010). Why do employees undertake creative action? Journal of Occupational & Organizational Psychology, 83(1), 77-99.
To be translated and republished in:
Giornale Italiano di Psicologia dell’Orientamento (Italian Journal of Psychology)

Carroll, A., Houghton, S., Wood, R., Unsworth, K.L., Hattie, J., Gordon, L., Bower, J. 2009, "Self-Efficacy And Academic Achievement In Australian High School Students: The Mediating Effects Of Academic Aspirations And Delinquency", Journal Of Adolescence, 32, 4, Pp. 797-817.

Robertson, J., Sorbello, T., & Unsworth, K.L. (2008). Innovation implementation: The role of technology diffusion agencies. Journal of Technology Management Innovation, 3(3).

Unsworth, K.L., & Kauter, K. (2008). Evaluating an earlybird scheme: Encouraging early assignment writing and revising. Higher Education Research & Development, 27(1), 69-76.

Sawang, S., Unsworth, K.L., & Sorbello, T. (2007). An exploratory study of innovation effectiveness measurement in Australian and Thai SMEs. International Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 12(1), 110-126.

Unsworth, K.L., Wall, T.D., & Carter, A.J. (2005). Creativity requirement: A neglected construct in the field of employee creativity. Group & Organization Management, 30(5), 541-560.

Refereed Conference Papers

Unsworth, K.L., Mazzarol, T., Reboud, S. 2009, "Turning An Innovation Intention Into A Reality: The Role Of Champion And External Agencies", 23rd Australian And New Zealand Academy Of Management Conference, Melbourne, Australia, Cdrom, Pp. N/A.

Sawang, S., & Unsworth, K.L. (2007, August). Innovation implementation effectiveness: A multiorganizational test of Klein, Conn and Sorra’s model. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Conference, 3-8 August, Philadelphia.

Unsworth, K.L. (2006, July). The role of evaluation in the creative process. International Congress of Applied Psychology, 16-21 July, Athens.

Murphy, G., Chang, A., & Unsworth, K.L. (2006, August). A job design approach to enterprise systems change. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Conference, 11-16 August, Atlanta.

Sawang, S., & Unsworth, K.L. (2006, June). An empirical study: The role of financial and non-financial performance measurement and perceived innovation effectiveness. Paper presented at 3rd IEEE International Conference on Management of Innovation and Technology, 21-23 June, Singapore.

Unsworth, K.L., Brabant, M., Murray, J.J., & Sawang, S. (2005, December). Developing a unifying theoretical framework for understanding organisational innovation adoption. Paper presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, 5-10 December, Canberra.

Unsworth, K.L., & Chang, A. (2005, August). The Renaissance or the cuckoo clock? The differential effects of workload and work demands on employee innovation. Paper presented at the Academy of Management Conference, 5-10 August, Hawaii.

Knight-Turvey, N., Wellen, J.M., & Unsworth, K. (2004, December). Modeling the relationship between climate and effectiveness. Paper presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the Australian & New Zealand Academy of Management. Dunedin.

Murphy, G., Chang, A., & Unsworth, K. (2004, December). User Acceptance Implications of IT drive Changes to Job Design. Paper accepted for presentation at the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Murphy, G., Chang, A., & Unsworth, K. (2004, December). A shock to the system: The impact of formal change initiatives on resource exchange networks. Paper presented at the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Unsworth, K.L. (2004, December). Firefighting: The effects of time pressure on employee innovation. Paper presented at 18th Annual Australian New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Unsworth, K.L., Clegg, C.W. (2004, December). Diaries: A new way of studying employee innovation. Paper presented at 18th Annual Australian New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Unsworth, K.L., Mason, C., & Jones, R.A. (2004, December). A Use for Rose-Coloured Glasses? Cognitive Framing, Job Crafting & Positive Psychology At Work. Paper accepted at 18th Annual Australian New Zealand Academy of Management Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Funding received

Unsworth, Lewandowsky, Morrison, Russell, Fielding & Lawrence, 2011: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Fund; $490,804; What about me? Climate change coping and adaptation in vulnerable populations

Griffin, Hodkiewicz, Cordery, Unsworth, & Morrison, 2011: National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority Research Funding; $55,890; Fitness to operate: Stage One

Unsworth, 2010: CRCMining Grant; $115,000; High reliability organising in the mining industry

Unsworth & Morrison, 2010: UWA Research Collaboration Award; $12,000; GROWing Your Organisation - Building Collaborations with an International WUN Network of Green Behaviour Scholars

Unsworth, 2010: BHP Billiton Research Funding; $41,850; Understanding tool-time motivation at Mt Whaleback and Port Hedland maintenance

Unsworth & Hodkiewicz, 2009: CRCMining Grant; $364,964; Motivation for Collecting High Quality Data


Kerrie Unsworth, Claire Mason & Olga Epitropaki, 2006, “Self-Leadership Towards Innovation and Well-Being”, Australian Research Council Discovery, Funds Approved: $126,000.

Kerrie Unsworth, Neal Ryan & Boris Kabanoff, 2004, “Organizational Innovation Adoption: The Effect of External, Technology Diffusion Agencies”, Australian Research Council Linkage, Funds Approved: $290,000.

Artemis Chang & Kerrie Unsworth, 2004, “Employee Census”, Queensland Department of Treasury, Funds Approved: $58,000.

Nick Turner & Kerrie Unsworth, 2004, “Constructing Safety”, Canadian Social Sciences Research Council, Funds Approved: CAD$100,000.

Kerrie Unsworth, “Gratitude at Work: The Relationship between Supervisors & Students”, QUT Faculty Research Initiative Grant, Funds Approved: $4,599.

Honours and awards

2011 - UWA Dean's Research Fellowship
2006 – QUT Dean’s Innovation in Teaching Award
2004 – QUT Dean’s Research Encouragement Award

Previous positions

2004 – 2006Senior Lecturer, School of Management, Queensland University of Technology
2002 – 2004 Lecturer, School of Management, Queensland University of Technology
2001 – 2002Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield
Project Manager of “Innovation at Rolls-Royce plc and BAE SYSTEMS”, part of University Technology Partnership project.
1996 – 1998Research Fellow, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield
Project Manager – Innovation data-analysis; Scale validation
Manager of short-term research assistant

Teaching

Organisational behaviour
Staffing organizations
Postgraduate organizational behaviour

Current external positions

Associate Editor for Journal of Organizational Behaviour (impact factor 1.98; ranked by the Australian Business Deans Council as A*)
Treasurer, Managerial & Organizational Cognition Division of the Academy of Management

Research profile

Research profile and publications