Our logic

We base our logic on modern systems principles and practices and use tools and techniques such as the Viable Systems Model, multiple perspective analysis and graphic representation of complex systems to better understand them and to identify useful, leveraged interventions.

We believe that our world is inter-connected - that an action in one domain could produce many different outcomes in different domains. We do not believe that the world is organised according to political portfolios. We need to change our organisational structures and arrangements to be more relevant to the inter-connectedness of our situation and to deliver greater power to influence our futures positively. This means speed, flexibility and knowledge.

We believe that it is essential to try to reach as broad an understanding as possible of the systems involved before acting. Therefore we use information design and communication ideas to try to appreciate a range of useful viewpoints.

In all things, we support the precautionary principle.

We recognise that there are occasions for rapid reaction but that in no way conflicts with our idea that initiating action should be done as thoughtfully as possible, with the requisite amount of information and with the maximum participation possible from all of those affected by the action.

Actions taken are best designed to be easily reversible so that mistakes can be corrected and learning take place. To that end effective organisations are best kept small to deliver the greatest flexibility. These directions are almost diametrically opposed to current government structures and methodologies, particularly the various incentive schemes for public services.

The systemic flaws in the structure and processes of government create important, fundamental weaknesses that can be exploited easily. These are not the characteristics of a viable (sustainable) system. The environment is now changing and becoming more inter-connected every day. Bureaucratic systems cannot keep up, they break down exposing the system to corruption, rorting and error. We believe that these flaws must be acknowledged and addressed before meaningful improvements in government productivity and quality can be made.

If such weaknesses are addressed systemically, then huge budget savings coupled with increases in efficiency and quality can be accomplished. These directions are the directions that we conceive for A Better Australia.