While on the surface it would appear that many problems are the same from one community to another, this is not the case. Frequently, the driving forces that are creating the problems are different and the interventions necessary to bring about long-term solutions are therefore different. Transferring solutions from one community to another is not always the answer.

Why does current situation exist?
Over time many of these problems have repeated themselves (some in a cyclic pattern). Unfortunately, few people within the community have had the required skills to analyse these patterns at a high enough level - they have dealt with them at the 'events' level due to the urgency for finding a solution. Due to unsuccessful outcomes over a long period of time, segments of the community usually resort to blaming each other. This slowly continues until deep underlying resentment establishes itself. Groups and individuals become alienated and communication across these barriers becomes, at best difficult, and at worst, non existent.

How can we help?
Applying the old traditional methods of strategic planning to community problems no longer works. Motivating the members of a community by telling them that they can change the world, brainstorming some actions and writing a plan for them to implement is an interesting exercise for most people.

The problem is however, they -
- Are looking at the problem from the events level,
- Lack the skills to implement actions successfully,
- Do not understand the systemic underlying forces that are creating the behaviours (trends) they are experiencing.

We bring a unique set of tools to the task of community revitalisation. Systems Thinking is part of System Dynamics, a new management science that enables us to identify the key variables within a system, their structural interconnections, and the dynamic behaviours created by these structures. It allows us to gain a deep understanding of these forces, and how they are creating the behaviours evident in the community. It also provides a communication tool that enables people within the community to gain this essential understanding.

By surfacing the Mental Models within the community, people begin to understand that in many cases they are part of their own problem. Once this recognition has occurred, people will work towards solving their problems in a new way.

We use a special communication model to ensure that the barriers within the community are broken down and through the establishment of a Future Group from within the community, people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own future. Members of the Future Group are provided with the necessary support mechanisms they require in order for them to be successful in this journey into the future.

The model we use for the structure of the Future Group promotes a diverse , high level view of the community's problems and future issues, and is designed to prevent a single person from hijacking the process in support of their own "pet project".

Information Technology will continue to play an ever increasing role in the future of all communities. We believe that regional portals need to be created in order to maximise communication, business, learning and knowledge acquisition.

In association with Dialog Information Technology we have recently established one of the first regional IT portals in Australia. It covers the towns of Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Mission Beach and Innisfail in North Queensland. This portal now provides the foundation for all e-Commerce, inter-region school communication, and community information services. To visit this web site go to www.greatgreenway.com

For more information please Email us, or telephone Peter Hone on (07) 4725 4488.