Appendices

• Pages: 101-315
• Date: 31 December 2010
• Published date: 31 December 2010
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3512(2011)0000021019

APPENDICES

APPENDIX 3.A. OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

OF FIRMS IN THE STUDY

The following is an introductory prof‌ile of the fastest growing f‌irms over the

three-year period of the study listed by corporate reputation ranking order.

The business activities in which the f‌irms are engaged are outlined to provide

background information for the reader.

The 100 Fastest Growing Firms in 2005

1.Ethan Group

Industry sector: information technology

The rapidly converging markets of data, voice and media are enabling

enormous opportunities for organisations in the way that they communicate

with their clients and business partners.

The Ethan Group prides itself on making it possible for its clients to

achieve a competitive advantage by adapting their business to the new

converged environment. The Ethan Group has built a uniquely competitive

business model that provides superior service to its customers. In the new

era of convergence, IT companies are able to rapidly develop the ability to

supply a range of telecommunications services. The Ethan Group is leading

the charge through its voice, high bandwidth and telecommunications

services (Ethan Group, 2005).

2.Mega Capital

Industry sector: f‌inance and insurance

Mega Capital was established in 2001 as a specialist professional risks

insurance broker with the vision of providing value-added general insurance

brokerage services to companies in a wide range of industries. Mega Capital

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has successfully transitioned to the new legislation and has been granted an

Australian Financial Services Licence. In addition, the f‌irm is a principal

member of the National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia.

To ensure clients receive top-quality advice, Mega Capital requires that

all its advisers have tertiary qualif‌ications and have an intimate knowledge

of the insurance industry. Mega Capital has off‌ices in Sydney and

Melbourne and services clients nationally. Its vision is to be regarded as

the best specialist professional risks insurance broker in Australia (Mega

Capital, 2005).

3.Atlassian Software Systems

Industry sector: information technology

Atlassian develops affordable, lightweight software that helps its

customers collaborate better. Atlassian means ‘like Atlas’ or ‘Atlas-like’.

It is not a real word but the would-be adjectival form of the name Atlas,

an ancient Greek Titan whose role in life was to stand atop the Atlas

Mountains holding up the sky with his hands to keep it from falling. He

was, therefore, the f‌irst person to fulf‌il the company’s mission to provide

legendary service while supporting the world. Atlassian’s vision is to build a

different kind of software company, one that listens to clients’ needs, values

innovation in development and solves customer problems with brilliant

simplicity (Atlassian Software Systems, 2005).

4.The Pubboy Group

Industry sector: accommodation, cafe

´s, restaurants

The Pubboy Group began in 1997 with the purchase of The Iron Duke

Hotel, Sydney. Since then, its growth has not only been impressively fast, it

has also been based on developing good ideas through excellent manage-

ment principles and pinpoint acquisitions as well as working with business

leaders in their particular f‌ields. Pubboy looks for opportunities where it can

offer something better, fresher and more valuable. The company often

moves into areas where the competition is complacent and the customer has

traditionally received a poor deal. Pubboy is pro-active and quick to act,

often leaving bigger and more cumbersome organisations in its wake. The

company has a great selection of country and city pub businesses in

Australia, employing and contracting over 300 people. The Pubboy Group

of Companies ties all these businesses together and highlights the values of

its brand and the attitude of its people. The founder/CEO Alexander-Erber

feels this growth can be maintained over the next few years when the

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company’s range of merchandise is introduced and an expansion into the

Queensland and Victorian markets has been completed (The Pubboy

Group, 2005).

5.Mobile Messenger

Industry sector: information technology

Mobile Messenger facilitates all aspects of mobile phone entertainment.

It provides a complete managed service to its clients from concept and

creation to delivery and technology to billing and customer service to

analysis. It delivers text chat, trivia and content management software

applications, as well as premium rate billing through its direct connections

to mobile network operators. Mobile Messenger is able to provide an end-

to-end service. The company can create, implement and maintain mobile

entertainment campaigns that generate revenue quickly and effortlessly. Its

clients then have the ability to enter this exciting industry and earn revenue

with a minimal amount of time and effort. Mobile Messenger’s speciality is

assessing clients’ existing products and services, determining the needs and

wants of the target market and delivering a quick-to-market, cost-effective

campaign that earns revenue. Mobile Messenger is dedicated to provide

its clients with a managed service from start to f‌inish – a company that is

there to provide clients with technology, marketing, business and industry

expertise. Its vision: to work in partnership with its clients to create and

maintain commercially viable mobile entertainment campaigns (Mobile

Messenger, 2005).

6. OzForex

Industry sector: f‌inance and insurance

OzForex Pty Ltd is an independent, online foreign exchange provider that

operates dealing rooms in Sydney and London. Offering seamless 24-hour

access to corporate and private client dealers, OzForex completes over

60,000 funds transfers per year on behalf of clients. The company employs

a blend of technology and tailored customer service to bring a better deal

to smaller customers. It uses the Internet and technology to provide

‘on demand’ information and dealing facilities and focuses on delivering a

‘high-touch’ approach to customer service, which makes its service unique in

the online f‌inancial services industry. OzForex was launched in April 1998

to provide customers with better and more eff‌icient foreign exchange

services than those offered by banks. It now operates in the Australian, UK

and New Zealand markets and has become one of the world’s leading online

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