Trust and communication development needs : An Australian waterfront study

This paper examines how the findings of a wider research effort, designed to examine the effect of change processes on the waterfront in Fremantle, Western Australia, gave rise to another research project. This second research project is described in full as an action research. The paper presents the objectives, content method and outcomes as well as the processes followed throughout the project. The Enterprise Communication Committee was not created for the action research program yet it was able to define both trust and communication. A home produced mechanism for developing trust and communication was constructed together with a commitment to carry on action learning within the organization. This is the waterfront ‐ with no history of development and no exposure to theory, the group members identified a need, produced a set of working definitions a methodology and an enthusiastic commitment to action.