The Australian Institute of Socio-Analysis
(AISA)
The Australian Institute of Socio-Analysis (AISA) was established
in Victoria, Australia in 1983 (it was then known as the Australian
Institute of Social Analysis). Each year AISA has sponsored
(sometimes with other organisations) at least one major group
relations conference (and usually other major conferences)
in the tradition which emanated from the Tavistock Institute
of Human Relations, London. This framework emerged from the
work of Wilfred Bion, A K Rice and others and over the past
50 years has developed and grown internationally. A variety
of organisations working in this framework exist in the United
Kingdom, Scandinavia, Europe, India, the USA, South Africa,
Israel, Eastern Europe and Australia.
AISA defines its primary task as: "to increase the work capacities
of individuals, groups organisations and institutions by providing
opportunities to recognise and manage conscious and unconscious
processes".
The term "socio-analysis" has only recently been coined by
Alastair Bain, AISA's Director. Yet the practice and theory
which inform socio-analysis have a considerable history. Socio-analysis
is the activity of exploration, consultancy and action research
which combines and synthesises methodologies and theories
derived from psycho-analysis, group relations, social systems
thinking, social dreaming and organisational behaviour.
Since its inception AISA has developed a range of activities
and events to achieve its primary task. The major activity
has been the annual national working conference. Drawing from
the tradition of the group relations conferences of the Tavistock
Institute in the UK and AK Rice Institute in the USA, these
conferences for managers, executives, professionals of all
kinds, provide experiential learning opportunities about :
- the exercise of authority and leadership,
- the meaning and management of task,
- boundary and roles, and the dynamics of organisational
life.
An array of activities around this event have also been developed
across Australia:
- Socio-analytic Fellowship Programme provides an extensive
training in socio-analysis which contributes to qualification
as a "Socio-Analyst"
- Organisational Consulting and Group Dynamics Workshops
provide shorter, non-residential skills-based opportunities
for managers and consultants to learn experientially about
the nexus of organisational dynamics and the consulting
aspect of various roles.
- Seminars and Scientific meetings deal with core concepts
and theory. Currently , for example, AISA is offering a
series of lunchtime seminars to explore the issues and unconscious
dynamics of organisational management in the context of
electronic communication cultures - or "e-Management". Study
groups and short courses in group dynamics are also offered.
- AISA provides consultancy services to organisations involved
in change management, leadership and management development,
organisational reviews, team development, primary task analysis
and organisational role analysis (ORA). The latter activity,
for example, creates opportunities for senior executives
to explore the nexus between the organisation as it is,
the picture they carry of it in their minds, and their own
personal dynamics, in a series of one-to-one consultations.
- We publish an international peer-reviewed academic journal
"Socio-Analysis", twice per year, as well as occasional
and work-in-progress papers, and a Newsletter.
- In addition to the national conference, AISA holds working
conferences for specialised groups of professionals (such
as the October 2000 working conference for psychotherapists
"Who am I at Work?) or interest areas - such as the "Authority
for Faith" Conferences. We also have organised international
scientific and group relations conferences - the next is
planned for June 2002. Every second year we hold either
a Members' Conference to explore internal and external dynamics
or a Scientific Conference. In 2001 these will be combined
in a five day event.
Although based in Melbourne, AISA has a strong national membership
and many of these activities are offered in Sydney (also on
the Eastern seaboard of Australia) and Perth (on the far west
coast of the continent.)
Details of AISA's work and activities can be accessed at
our website: www.aisa.org.
AISA can be reached at: aisa@aisa.org.au
or phone (03) 96546575.
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