"Future Search" is a conferncing technique that enables
conscious, collaborative community development.
Participants explore and validate their differences, accept
them and work "from" them, not on them.
A "Future Search" conference incorporates a broader
cross-section of "stakeholders" than is usual and requires
less preperation than traditional meetings.
There are no speeches, training exercises, or rehearsals.
The emphasis throught is on learning - not teaching or being
taught.
The "tasks" of discovery, dialogue, learning and planning
are self-managed and can lead to mutual exploration of the
"whole system": its history, ideals, problems , limits,
opportunities and the relevance of global trends.
The energy of the conference goes into staking out the
widest possible "common ground."
2. Origins Of "Future Search"
The "Future Search" technique of "whole systems learning",
which concentrates on understanding the "joint"
relationship to the wider world as opposed to relationships
with each other, evolved from Gestalt Psychology and Object
Relations Analysis (1920's).
During the 1930's and 1940's Kurt Lewin and Wilford Bion
made contributions which were further developed by Soloman
Asch.
The work of Fred Emery (Australia) and Eric Trist (N.
America) began appearing during the 1960's. Their work has
led directly to the implementation of "Search" conferences
in Britain, India, Pakistan, S. America and Turkey (1960's
onward).
Further refinement came from Einar Thorzud (Norway), Ron
Lippitt and Eva Schindler-Rainman (N. America) and others.
"Future Search" as a conferencing technique has been in use
since the 1980's and has continued to be a valuable and
energizing conference methodology.
3. Characteristics Of Future Search
There is a great deal of flexibility in both the number of
participants and the duration of a "Future Search"
conference. Usually 2 to 3 days should be allowed for
approximately 30 to 80 participants.
During the conference "task groups" reconvene and share
their findings with the whole conference.
Through a process of "collaborative inquiry" task groups
address:
1. Where we came from
2. Where we are now
3. Look at the "global perspective"
4. Acknowledge what they hold as "common ground"
5. Generate a sceanario of the "ideal future"
6. Form ongoing "task groups" to generate and implement
action plans
4. When To Use "Future Search"
"Future Search" is ideal for organizations, associations,
communities, companies or groups with a common concern,that
are ready to define/redefine their long or short term
goals, discover new possibilities, increase commitment and
arrive at, and implement, a common vision of the future.
Several accounts of "Future Search" conferences, from
planning through post-conference action, are available
on-line. Worth looking at are:
Beloit Daily News
An account of how the Greater Beloit community engaged
in a "Future Search" conference to determine where they
wanted to go as a community and how to get there.
The Future Search Conference
Tompkins Cortland Community College had its first
"Future Search" conference in January, 1996. A full account
of their experience in making the College relevant to the
real needs of the community can be found in the excellent
article by William Casolara.
New Mexico State University Library
"Choosing Our Future"; how the New Mexico State
University Library sought to get "in synch" with the local
community in order to be of better service and take a more
active role in the life of the community.
The Alberta Diversity Network
How the Alberta Diversity Network utilized "Future
Search" to define themselves and the action implemented.
5. Future Search Online
A major advantage of the "Future Search" conference format
is the ease with which conferees can initiate and maintain
communication, coordinate efforts, collaborate and
strengthen commitment before, during and after the real-time
conference "ends".
Before the "real-time" conference is scheduled to start
participants can begin to get in touch with one another by
participating in a "conferees only" virtual space through
the use of conferencing software and/or intranets.
During the conference itself conferees will be able to
"chat" across task groups, send and receive e-mail,
stay in touch with all the current developments at the
conference, review "findings" of task groups and generally
have a good time communicating.
After the "real-time" conference is "over", through use of
conferencing software, participants will be able to maintain
and add to the momentum generated at the conference as the
task groups address their issues.
In effect - the "Future Search" conference does not end;
it shifts to cyber-space where the seeds that were planted
during the conference can sprout.
Action plans generated at the "Future Search" conference can
gain momentum as the excitement generated fuels hopes,
dreams and action.
6. Resources For Further Learning
Marvin Weisbord, "Future Searches" in the "Skills and
Practices in Community Building for Organizations" section
of "Community Building: Renewing Spirit and Learning in
Business", Kazimierz Gozdz, ed., New Leader Press, 1995.
Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff, "Future Search: An Action
Guide to Finding Common Ground in Organizations and
Communities,Berrett Koehler, San Francisco, 1995.
Marvin Weisbord and 35 International Coauthors, "Discovering
Common Ground: How Future
Search Conferences Bring People Together to Achieve
Breakthrough Innovation, Empowerment, Shared Vision, and
Collaborative Action
Beloit Daily News
An account of a "Future Search" conference involving
stakeholders in the greater Beloit community.
The Tompkins Cortland Community College Experience
Planning the future for a community college and the
community.
The Newsletter of the New Mexico State Library
The New Mexico State University Library, the community
and the "Future Search" conference.
The Alberta Diversity Network
How the Alberta Diversity Network utilizes "differences"
to continue building the community.
The Future of Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon looks to the future with "Future Search"
as its method.
The Change Project
An interview/overview of the "Future Search" conference
as revealed in an interview with Marvin Weisbord, one of the
people that "wrote the book".