Rod Williams has been employed as an Industrial Relations Officer representing Employers (NT Confederation of Industry & Commerce, Darwin NT), Equity Resources Analyst (National Mutual Funds Management, Melbourne VIC) and a Senior Manager with an Australian Mining Corporation (Normandy Mining, Adelaide SA).

All of those companies struggled with the question of doing business or connecting with the Aboriginal community. Finding that balance between being profitable; representing members/ shareholders and understanding that it makes good business to engage the Aboriginal community.

During this period of employment Rod was given the charter to develop business relations and business opportunities with the Aboriginal community. The Aboriginal community response was to take a holistic approach by considering the cultural, social, environment and economic impact of doing business. “How does the business activity impact upon?”

Cultural –protect, embrace and respect our cultural diversity.
Social – improve our social well-being for all generations
Environmental – protect the environment and allow us to continue to participate in the management of that environment.
Economic – Create business opportunities that have a generational economic benefit and build the business capacity of the community/ family.

Western management theories and models that are purely based on monetary values are just not working for people from non Western cultures.

Cultural/ Economic Frameworks or Models are utilised to find the balance between cultural, social, environmental and economic well being.

Communicating

The communication gap between the western (individualism) approach and the holistic (collectivity) approach to issues often creates difficulties.

It has been Gongan Consultancy observations that the representatives from

Business – spoke of profits and industry standards;
Government – spoke of programs and measurable outcomes;
Aboriginal Community – spoke of a holistic approach taking culture, social justice, environmental protection and business development.

The three groups often present their directions in a language that usually leads to misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Gongan Framework Models were developed to give the parties a common language and framework to work through at the consultation and negotiation stages.

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