What is the “Mapping the Connections” project?
‘Mapping the Connections’ is a new Australian Government investigation to identify advantageous connections between businesses. It will identify opportunities to increase the productivity and efficiency of small and medium businesses by mapping and analysing supply chains in a region or area.
The project has national application, and the first study will examine relationships between suppliers and their customers in the defence, information and communications technology and electronics industries in northern Adelaide.
This project is the first of its kind in Australia and its approach to understanding existing and potential supply chains and links between businesses in different industries within a region will set an important benchmark in Australian industry analysis.
What will this project practically achieve?
This project will result in:
1. A template for mapping business and supply connections which can be applied to other regions in Australia;
2. A report analysing the connections within the project study region of northern Adelaide which identifies real opportunities to improve business growth and provide employment;
3. Detailed analysis of the scale and nature of the main business inputs and outputs of the three industries in the region;
4. Identification of critical market gaps, and quantification of the scale of the business opportunities to fill these gaps; and
5. Market information enabling participants to benchmark their market share and market importance in the key inputs and outputs in the region.
How will this project affect me?
If you are a business operator in any of the three focus industries in northern Adelaide, you may be contacted for an interview by Elton Consulting, a social research firm which has been engaged to carry out this project.
Your input to this project is greatly appreciated, as it will assist the government to help identify business opportunities and improve policy for small and medium businesses in your region and throughout Australia. The project’s outcomes will underpin future strategies to connect companies to one another and improve supply chain opportunities in northern Adelaide.
Who can participate?
We invite you to complete our survey if your business is located in one of the three local government areas in Northern Adelaide:
- Playford,
- Salisbury or
- Port Adelaide-Enfield
AND you are part of any of the following three industries:
- ICT (Information, Communications and Technology)
- Electronics or
- Defence (in this industry or fulfil Defence contracts).
You may have already been contacted by mail or phone and asked to complete our on-line survey. If you have not participated yet we invite you to complete the survey here – or if you prefer you can call our call centre at Jetty Research on 02-6699-3551 to complete it over the phone at your convenience.
Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FYW11Qopxaq1huUVaVcizQ_3d_3d
This survey will take about 10 minutes. All of your responses will be kept in strict confidence. Your details will be collected for statistical purposes, but no identifying information about you or your business will be included in the report of this survey.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Bryan Moroney on 03-5227-3442
How is this project being funded?
This project will fulfil an election commitment made by the Labor Government in late 2007 and is a part of the Enterprise Connect initiative. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Hon. Kim Carr has approved funding to enable completion of the Mapping the Connections project in northern Adelaide. Funding has also been allocated to support refinement and documentation of the mapping methodology for application in other regions of Australia in the future.
Enterprise Connect is an Australian Government initiative which provides a national network of services and support for eligible businesses to access expert, practical advice and support tailored to their individual firms to improve productivity, increase competitiveness and fully capitalise on their growth potential.
Mapping the Connections is an important part of the work of the Innovative Regions Centre – the focal point of Enterprise Connect’s work to assist regions that are experiencing tough times with higher than average unemployment and significant adjustment pressures.