ECU researchers join national ARC project to boost human capabilities in a digital world

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ECU researchers join national ARC project to boost human capabilities in a digital world

Friday, 14 November 2025

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ECU School of Business and Law is celebrating a major research outcome, with SBL academics named Chief Investigators on a newly funded Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project led by Curtin University.

The project, Human Capabilities and Digital Innovation: An Embedded Workflow Model, brings together researchers from Curtin and ECU with industry partners Australian Wisdom Capital Group and CORE Innovation Hub to solve a challenge facing organisations around the world:
how to help human skills and digital workflows work together, not against each other.

Processes or people?

Many organisations are now flooded with data and digital processes designed to improve productivity and innovation. But as the project team notes, these systems often clash with the way people actually work, leading to frustration, poor adoption, and costly failure rates for digital initiatives.

This ARC Linkage Project will explore how to bring the human side of work and the digital side together more smoothly. That includes integrating:

human skills, judgement, and decision-making
data-driven technologies
better coordination tools
training that helps staff adapt to digital change

The project will turn its findings into simple, practical tools and guides that businesses can use when introducing new digital systems, so their staff aren’t overwhelmed. The goal is to help workplaces run smoothly and staff feel supported in Australia’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Bringing Business Expertise

ECU School of Business and Law researchers Dr Keyao (Eden) Li and Professor Jianxin Li are serving as Chief Investigators on the project, bringing ECU’s strengths in data analytics, organisational capability, and digital transformation.

Their involvement highlights the School of Business and Law’s growing research footprint and its commitment to producing work that delivers real-world impact for industry.

Dr Li said the success of this national competitive grant reflects increasing recognition of the School’s expertise.

“This ARC Linkage Project provides us with opportunities to highlight the real impact and industry relevance of our research. We’re excited to bring ECU’s expertise to a project of clear national importance.”

Academia meets Industry

ARC Linkage Projects are designed to connect universities with industry to solve problems that matter. This collaboration brings together:

Curtin University – Administering Organisation
Edith Cowan University (School of Business and Law)
Australian Wisdom Capital Group
CORE Innovation Hub

Together, the team will develop evidence-based approaches to help organisations navigate digital disruption with confidence, empathy, and stronger capability.

Where to next?

With funding now confirmed, the project will begin developing its research framework, consulting with industry partners, and shaping tools to support businesses adopting new digital workflows.

For the School of Business and Law, it marks another step forward in expanding ECU’s national research presence and reinforcing our commitment to collaborative, industry-focused research with meaningful impact.

School of Business and Law