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About MacSphere

MacSphere is McMaster University's Institutional Repository (IR). The purpose of an IR is to bring together all of a University's research under one umbrella, with an aim to preserve and provide access to that research. The research and scholarly output included in MacSphere has been selected and deposited by the individual university departments and centres on campus.

To contribute to McMaster's Institutional Repository, please sign on to MacSphere with your MAC ID.

If you have any questions, please contact the MacSphere Support Team.

Students wishing to deposit their PhD or Masters thesis, please follow the instructions outlined by the School of Graduate Studies.

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Communities in MacSphere

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Recent Submissions

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    CRDCN research-policy snapshot digest: Volume 5 Issue 1
    (2026-01-06) Canadian Research Data Centre Network
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    Precarious employment is linked to workplace injuries in Ontario, Canada
    (2026-01) Shahidi, Faraz Vahid; Larney, Andrea
    Precarious employment, referring to work that is unstable and insecure, has important implications for workplace health and safety. Workers in precarious employment often face overlapping risks, including inadequate training, high job turnover, fear of reprisal for reporting unsafe conditions, and gaps in regulatory protections. Economic insecurity may also require them to work longer hours, take on multiple jobs, or accept dangerous work. For all these reasons, precarious employment is hypothesized to increase the likelihood of experiencing an injury on the job. This study tested that hypothesis by examining the association between precarious employment and workplace injuries in Ontario, Canada.
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    The paradox of prosperity: Why higher earnings can reduce growth aspirations
    (2026-01) Freel, Mark
    This study fills a key gap by showing that entrepreneurial growth intentions are not static, but rather shaped by prior success and recent constraints, challenging the assumption that higher income always signals future expansion. Using survey data from Canadian small firms, this study finds that financial and human resource barriers spur growth ambitions, while regulatory and competitive pressures dampen them. This dynamic perspective advances understanding of how past performance and contextual obstacles interact, offering insights for policymakers and lenders to better forecast growth potential and tailor support strategies beyond simple financial indicators.
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    Innovation effects of information and communication technologies: Evidence from Canadian firms
    (2026-01) Entezarkheir, Mahdiyeh; Moshiri, Saeed
    This paper offers empirical evidence that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) significantly boost both product and process innovation across Canadian industries. Using longitudinal data from the Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey (1999–2005), the study finds a positive, significant link between ICT adoption (measured by computer usage) and four types of innovation: new products, improved products, new processes, and improved processes. From a policy standpoint, the findings highlight the value of supporting ICT adoption to drive innovation and productivity. Two mechanisms are identified: (1) direct investment effects via reduced ICT costs, and (2) indirect spillover effects through organizational and knowledge transformation.
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    Does employee’s diversity help innovation?: Evidence from Canadian firms
    (2026-01) Entezarkheir, Mahdiyeh; Moshiri, Saeed
    This study examines how ethnic diversity among employees influences innovation within firms. Drawing on organizational behavior theories, it highlights how diversity can both enrich idea generation and create behavioral challenges. Using Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey (WES) data and a mixed logit model, the study finds robust evidence that ethnic diversity positively impacts both product and process innovation, even after addressing endogeneity. Importantly, diverse employees are most effective in firms with strong organizational capital and training programs. Manufacturing, transportation, and selected service sectors benefit the most, underscoring diversity’s role as a driver of knowledge creation and competitive advantage.