Introduction

The security that many citizens have felt in their various governments has come under threat in recent years. Governments in western countries like Australia have relied on bureaucracy and regulation to control the activities of its citizens but, as the complexity of our societies increases, so regulation is totally unable to keep up with the changes. Australia’s Tax Act passed the 10,000 page mark several years ago, totally surpassing anyone’s comprehension. Each of Australia’s States is busy passing more regulations and more amendments, all requiring extensive administration by Australia’s expanding bureaucratic armies. The effect has been to bind our governments into almost complete stasis with their being unable to consider any new problem without being attended by an army of lawyers and advisors.

This self-induced rigidity has also acted to prevent, or inhibit, governments from considering new challenges, as has the rise of television that has made political messages unaffordable for many and the rise of direct corporate lobbying that has swamped citizens’ voices. In many cases, corporate lobbyists are able to convince governments of actions that may be detrimental to citizens which creates tensions and conflicts that the citizen often has no means to resolve.

Overall, recent changes have acted to decrease the ability of individual citizens to get action from government and large organisations. This has placed many into a situation of trying to organise to get noticed or to achieve some form of change, propelling the novice into the complex world of organisation, project management and results.

These tools are designed to provide individuals with practical ideas and assistance that:

• Give you a useful model of organisations and why they work (or not)
• provide a rationale and approach to personal and organisational improvement
• describe effective new communication and other tools
• provide a ‘signpost’ showing where you might find further help.

The ideas and tools provided on ABA are based on modern ‘systems’ theories and practices coupled with lessons from real world experience.

These tools provide the best of modern practices that can help you to:

• do more with the same resources
• do better with the same resources
• survive with fewer resources.

In dealing with big governments and corporates, you can also take advantage of their inflexibility and size to help disrupt their ambitions. Citizens are sometimes reduced to tears, or their lives destroyed, by the uncaring power of big institutions, ABA can show you tools that can both increase your motivation and sense of self worth, while also hurting the very organisations that are trying to hurt you.