Fiona Buick

Senior Lecturer in Public Sector Management
Senior Lecturer

Dr Fiona Buick is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra. My research identifies key people management challenges within public sector organisations and how to address them. In particular, how to improve human resource practices and processes to build capacity and achieve desired outcomes.

Specific areas of focus so far have been organisational culture, performance management, middle manager capability development, machinery of government changes, employee well-being, and hybrid working.

I was the lead on the ANZSOG / ACT Public Service research project "Flexible working in the Australian Capital Territory Public Service" (see https://anzsog.edu.au/news/how-public-services-can-meet-employees-preference-for-flexible-work/). I was also the lead on the National Disability Research Partnership work on disability research capacity (see https://www.ndrp.org.au/research-capacity).

I obtained my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management, Masters of Human Resource Management, Graduate Diploma in Employment Relations and a Bachelor of Applied Psychology, all from the University of Canberra. Prior to commencing my PhD, I worked as a human resource practitioner in the Australian Public Service and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

I am available to supervise Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, particularly PhD candidates.

 

Books
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Blackman D; Van Meegen D; Johnson S; Buick F, 2021, Organizations and employees: Performance management and capability development - the agenda of the future?
2021
Preprints
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Blackman DA; Buick F; O'Donnell M; O'Flynn JL; West D, Can Enhanced Performance Management Support Public Sector Change?, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2689363
Blackman DA; Buick F; O'Donnell M; O'Flynn JL; West D, Strengthening the Peformance Framework: Towards a High Performing Australian Public Service, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2275681
Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M; O'Flynn JL; West D, Developing High Performance: Performance Management in the Australian Public Service, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2130232
Book Chapters
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Blackman D; Buick F; Gardner K; Glennie M; Johnson S; O’Donnell M; Olney S, 2021, 'Conclusion to the Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector', in Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector, pp. 308 - 310
2021
Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M, 2021, 'Designing performance management to be an ethical tool', in Blackman D; Buick F; Gardner K; Glennie M; Johnson S; O'Donnell M; Olney S (ed.), Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector, Edward Elgar, pp. 294 - 307, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/unsw/detail.action?docID=6631155
2021
Buick F, 2021, 'Performance management and common purpose: Rethinking solutions to inter-organizational working', in Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 229 - 248, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781789901207.00021
2021
Buick F; O’Flynn J; Malbon E, 2019, 'Boundary Challenges and the Work of Boundary Spanners', in Reimagining the Future Public Service Workforce, Springer Singapore, pp. 21 - 38, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1480-3_2
2019
Buick F; O'Flynn J; Malbon E, 2018, 'Boundary Challenges and the Work of Boundary Spanners', in Re-imagining the Future Public Service Workforce, Springer, pp. 21 - 38, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1480-3
2018
Carey G; Malbon E; Buick F, 2018, 'Boundary spanners: towards a theory of practice.', in Craven L; Dickinson H; Carey G (ed.), Crossing Boundaries in Public Management and Policy: Tackling the Critical Challenges., Routledge, New York, N.Y., pp. 121 - 134, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315206271-13
2018
Dickson TJ; Terwiel AF; Buick F, 2017, 'Volunteer management at the paralympic games', in Darcy S; Frawley S; Adair D (ed.), Managing the Paralympics, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 193 - 216, http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-43522-4_9
2017
Carey G; Buick F; Malbon E, 2017, 'Institutions and wicked problem', in Farazmand A (ed.), Global Encyclopaedia of Public Administration, Public Policy and Governance. Springer
2017
Carey G; Buick F; Malbon E, 2017, 'Institutions and Wicked Problems', in Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance, Springer International Publishing, pp. 1 - 7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31816-5_3337-1
2017
Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M; O'Flynn J; West D, 2016, 'Performance Management as a Strategic Tool for Change', in Blackman D; O'Donnell M; Teo S (ed.), Human Capital Management Research, edn. Contemporary Perspectives in Human Capital and Development, IAP Information Age Publishing, USA, pp. 149 - 162
2016
Blackman D; Buick F; West D; O'Donnell M; O'Flynn J, 2015, 'PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT: CREATING HIGH PERFORMANCE, NOT HIGH ANXIETY', in Wanna J; Lee H-A; Yates S (ed.), Managing Under Austerity, Delivering Under Pressure, ANU Press, Acton, Australia, pp. 79 - 102, http://press.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ch052.pdf
2015
Buick F, 2014, 'The Culture Solution? Culture and Common Purpose in Australia', in O'Flynn J; Blackman D; Halligan J (ed.), Crossing Boundaries in Public Policy and Management: The International Experience, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon, pp. 78 - 91
2014
Buick F, 2013, 'Boundary Spanning to Address Indigenous Disadvantage in Australia', in Langan-Fox J; Cooper CL (ed.), Boundary-Spanning in Organizations Network, Influence and Conflict, Routledge, New York, pp. 143 - 159, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203488058
2013
Halligan J; Buick F; O'Flynn J, 2011, 'Experiments with joined-up, horizontal and whole-of-government in Anglophone countries', in International Handbook on Civil Service Systems, pp. 74 - 99
2011
Halligan J; Buick F; O'Flynn J, 2011, 'Joined-Up, Horizontal and Whole-of-Government in Anglophone Countries', in Massey A (ed.), International Handbook on Civil Service Systems, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 74 - 102
2011
Halligan J; Buick F; O’Flynn J, 'Experiments with Joined-up, Horizontal and Whole-of-Government in Anglophone Countries', in , Edward Elgar Publishing, http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781781001080.00010
Conference Papers
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Blackman D; Johnson S; Buick F; Faifua D; O'Donnell M; Forsythe M, 2016, 'The 70:20:10 model for learning and development: an effective model for capability development?', in Academy of Management Annual Meeting 2016, Academy of Management Annual Conference, USA, presented at Academy of Management Annual Conference, USA, 05 August 2016 - 09 August 2016
2016
MacKrell D; McDonald C; Buick F; Kleeman D, 2016, 'Boundary spanning theory: A case study of the professionalisation of ICT graduates in the Australian Public Service', in Proceedings of the 27th Australasian Conference on Information Systems, ACIS 2016
2016
Buick F; Blackman D; West D; O'Flynn J; O'Donnell M, 2014, 'Enhancing performance in the australian public service: A case of co-production', in 74th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, AOM 2014, pp. 123 - 128, http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2014.181
2014
Blackman D; Buick F; Odonnell M; Oflynn J; West D, 2013, 'Managing expectations to create high performance government', in Academy of Management 2013 Annual Meeting, AOM 2013, pp. 424 - 429, http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2013.11
2013
Blackman DA; Buick F; Halligan J; O'Flynn JL; Marsh I, 2010, 'Australian Experiences with Whole of Government: Constraints and Paradoxes in Practice', in SSRN Electronic Journal, Elsevier BV, Berne, Switzerland, presented at International Research Society for Public Management, Berne, Switzerland, 07 April 2010 - 09 April 2010, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1927603
2010
Edited Books
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Blackman D; Buick F; Gardner K; Glennie M; Johnson S; O'Donnell M; Olney S, (eds.), 2021, Handbook on Performance Management in the Public Sector, Edward Elgar, https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-on-performance-management-in-the-public-sector-9781789901191.html
2021
Journal articles
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Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M; Ilahee N, 2022, 'Changing the Conversation to Create Organizational Change', The Journal of Change Management, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14697017.2022.2040570
2022
Yates S; Dodd S; Doyle C; Buick F; Dickinson H, 2022, 'Where specialist and mainstream service systems collide: The National Disability Insurance Scheme in prisons', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 81, pp. 611 - 628, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12555
2022
Joyce A; Moussa B; Elmes A; Campbell P; Suchowerska R; Buick F; Barraket J; Carey G, 2022, 'Organisational structures and processes for health and well-being: insights from work integration social enterprise', BMC Public Health, vol. 22, pp. 1624, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13920-4
2022
Dodd S; Doyle C; Dickinson H; Buick F; Yates S, 2022, 'The forgotten prisoners: Exploring the impact of imprisonment on people with disability in Australia', Criminology and Criminal Justice, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/17488958221120895
2022
Dickinson H; Yates S; Dodd S; Buick F; Doyle C, 2022, '"Most people don't like a client group that tell you to get fucked": Choice and control in Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme for formerly incarcerated people', PUBLIC POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/09520767221134320
2022
Gardner K; Blackman D; Buick F, 2021, 'Co-generated knowledge as a path for establishing research impact', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 80, pp. 577 - 589, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12513
2021
Blackman D; Buick F; Johnson S; Rooney J; Ilahee N, 2021, 'Using system traps to understand and potentially prevent human resource development intervention failure', Human Resource Development Quarterly, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21434
2021
Johnson SJ; Blackman DA; Buick F, 2018, 'The 70:20:10 framework and the transfer of learning', Human Resource Development Quarterly, vol. 29, pp. 383 - 402, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.21330
2018
Buick F; Blackman D; Johnson S, 2018, 'Enabling Middle Managers as Change Agents: Why Organisational Support Needs to Change', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 77, pp. 222 - 235, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12293
2018
Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M, 2017, 'Why Performance Management Is Not Like Dieting', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 76, pp. 524 - 528, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12238
2017
Blackman D; Buick F; O'Donnell M, 2017, 'Integrating individual and organizational change: Conversations for change', Academy of Management Proceedings, vol. 2017, pp. 10370 - 10370, http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2017.10370abstract
2017
Carey G; Buick F; Malbon E, 2017, 'The Unintended Consequences of Structural Change: When Formal and Informal Institutions Collide in Efforts to Address Wicked Problems', International Journal of Public Administration, vol. 41, pp. 1169 - 1180, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2017.1350708
2017
Blackman D; Buick F; O'flynn J; O'donnell M; West D, 2017, 'Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Government', Review of Public Personnel Administration, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0734371X17701544
2017
Buick F; Carey G; Pescud M, 2017, 'Structural changes to the public sector and cultural incompatibility: the consequences of political decisions and inadequate change management.', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 77, pp. 50 - 68, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12262
2017
Blackman DA; Buick F; O'Flynn J, 2016, 'From engaging to enabling: Could an asset-based approach transform Indigenous affairs?', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, vol. on line first, pp. 1632 - 1651, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0263774X16629674
2016
Buick F; Blackman D; O'Flynn J; O'Donnell M; West D, 2016, 'Effective Practitioner-Scholar Relationships: Lessons from a Coproduction Partnership', Public Administration Review, vol. 76, pp. 35 - 47, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/puar.12481
2016
Carey G; Buick F; Pescud M; Malbon E, 2016, 'Preventing dysfunction and improving policy advice: the role of intra-departmental boundary spanners', Australian Journal of Public Administration, vol. 76, pp. 176 - 186, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12213
2016
Buick F; Blackman DA; O'Donnell ME; O'Flynn JL; West D, 2015, 'Can enhanced performance management support public sector change?', Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 28, pp. 271 - 289, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-12-2013-0249
2015
Buick F, 2013, 'The perils of cultural differentiation: silo mentalities as an impediment to joined-up success', Academy of Management Proceedings, vol. 2013, pp. 13369 - 13369, http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2013.13369abstract
2013
O'Flynn J; Buick F; Blackman D; Halligan J, 2011, 'You Win Some, You Lose Some: Experiments with Joined-Up Government', International Journal of Public Administration, vol. 34, pp. 244 - 254, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01900692.2010.540703
2011
Reports
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Buick F; Glennie M; Dickinson H; Blackman D; Williamson S; Weeratunga V; Tani M, 2022, Flexible working in the Australian Capital Territory Public Service (ACTPS), ANZSOG, https://anzsog.edu.au/app/uploads/2022/10/Flexible-working-in-the-ACTPS-RI-CoverFINAL.pdf
2022
Buick F; West R; Dickinson H, 2022, Building effective system-wide disability research capacity in Australia, https://www.ndrp.org.au/research-capacity
2022
Buick F, 2021, Disability Research Capacity: Key Definitions and Frameworks
2021
Blackman D; Dickinson H; Gardner K; Buick F; Johnson S; Olney S, 2018, Submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service. Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW Canberra
2018

In the media:

Weeratunga, V., Glennie, M., Tani, M. and Buick, F. 2022. Public sector organisations aren’t ready to unleash the power of data. Mandarin. 17 March. https://www.themandarin.com.au/184394-public-sector-organisations-arent-ready-to-unleash-the-power-of-data/

ANZSOG. 2022. How public services can meet employees’ preference for flexible work, 7 October. https://anzsog.edu.au/news/how-public-services-can-meet-employees-preference-for-flexible-work/. Article promoting a research project I led.

ANZSOG. 2021. ANZSOG funds research into how the public sector can support flexible working, 21 September. https://anzsog.edu.au/news/anzsog-funds-research-into-how-the-public-sector-can-support-flexible-working/. Article promoting a research project I led.

Carey, G. and Buick, F. 2019. What Do Morrison’s Changes to The APS Mean for Public Servants And Policy? Australian Institute of International Affairs, https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/what-do-morrisons-changes-to-the-aps-mean-for-public-servants-and-policy/.

Podcasts:
Blackman, D. and Buick, F. 2022. Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Wellbeing in the public purpose sector. IPAA Victoria Podcast. Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Wellbeing in the public purpose sector — IPAA Victoria

Webinars: 

Contributed to The boundaries between Australian disability services and prisons (with Mindy Sotiri, Caroline Doyle, Shannon Dodd, Sophie Yates and Helen Dickinson)

Contributions to reviews:

Blackman D; Dickinson H; Gardner K; Buick F; Johnson S; Olney S. 2018. Submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service. Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW Canberra.

  • 2022 Recipient of the Richard A. Swanson Research Excellence Award, prestigious award sponsored by The Academy of Human Resource Development:
    • Blackman, D., Buick, F., Johnson, S., Rooney, J. and Ilahee, N. 2021. Using system traps to understand and potentially prevent human resource development intervention failure. Human Resource Development Quarterly. DOI: 10.1002/hrdq.21434. Impact Factor: 4.077; SNIP: 1.738. .
  • 2019 Awarded the Best Article of 2019 in the Review of Public Personnel Administration:
    • Blackman, D., Buick, F., O’Flynn, J., O’Donnell, M. and West, D. 2017. ‘Managing expectations to create high performance government’. Review of Public Personnel Administration. DOI: 10.1177/0734371X17701544. Impact Factor: 6.047; SNIP: 2.837.
  • 2016: Recipient of the Louis Brownlow Award presented to the authors of the best PAR article by a practitioner in 2016:
    • Buick, F, Blackman, D, O’Flynn, J, West, D, & O’Donnell, M, 2016, ‘Effective practitioner-scholar relationships: Lessons from a co-production partnership’, Public Administration Review, 76(1): 35-47. DOI: 10.1111/puar.12481
  • 2013: Recipient of the Carlo Masini Award for Innovative Scholarship and the Charles H. Levine Best Conference Paper for the Public and Nonprofit Division:
    • Blackman, D., Buick, F., O’Donnell, M., O’Flynn, J. and West, D. 2013. ‘Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Government’. Academy of Management Proceedings. Lake Buena Vista (Orlando). 9-13 August. [Peer-reviewed].
    • 2021-22: ANZSOG funded project, Flexible Working in the ACTPS ($97,445.94)
    • 2022: National Disability Research Partnership, Disability Research Capacity in Australia: Where Do We Need To Be and How Can We Get There? ($51,235.23)
    • 2021: National Disability Research Partnership, Disability Research Capacity Definitions and Frameworks ($10,000)
    Organisational units
    lensSchool of Business
    lensPublic Service Research Group
    Sub Theme
    lensPublic Service Management