Research programme

CANZ is an integrated programme of research devoted to understanding how New Zealand enterprises can develop competitive advantage that is world-class.

Running since 1998, the programme has produced case-histories, articles, conference papers, seminars and a book World Famous in New Zealand, on the sources of competitive advantage in some of New Zealand’s leading businesses. See publications for a list of outputs, and to download case histories now in the public domain, including our recent additions: Buckley Systems and NZfilm.

The programme is developing new models of how world-class businesses can emerge from New Zealand’s small and isolated economy.

CANZ is unique in the world for bringing together researchers from a broad range of organisation studies disciplines into one multi-disciplinary team, focused on understanding how to develop competitive capabilities through time.

The programme is guided by an advisory panel of business and policy leaders. It is funded by the Public Good Science and Technology Fund, with additional support from the New Zealand Trade Development Board and Victoria University of Wellington.

CANZ is unusual for the size of the team and the breadth of interests involved. The research team includes specialists in organisation theory, organisation behaviour, human resource management, information technology management, strategy, operations management, technology and R&D management, and decision processes. Members of the team have a long-standing commitment to researching the development of New Zealand business.