Even when people basically agree, a few differences of opinion can derail attempts to plan for the future.  During a future search conference, however, disagreements do not take center stage.  Instead, participants create a shared picture of the past and present and a shared vision of the future before they develop a concrete plan of action.  These agreements produce the possibility for more action than would be available in a traditional planning session.

The future search conference was developed by Marvin Weisbord and has been used extensively in businesses, schools, government, health care and human services, and communities around the world.  Consensus convened the first community-wide future search in 1993 at Arrowhead Stadium and has convened subsequent future searches targeted to specific issues.

Future search conferences are ideal for an institution that needs to answer a specific, important question.  Some examples:  How do we respond to changes in our environment?  How do we make ourselves more productive?  What changes in policy should we implement?  Conferences are very task-oriented and focused, and those who have experienced them say that they accomplish a great deal in less time than the typical process of holding meeting after meeting after meeting.

A future search typically takes place during 16 hours over three days.  It involves 60-80 persons who represent a cross-section of those with something at stake in solving the problem.  A school, for example, might involve parents, teachers, students, administrators, as well as nearby business owners and representatives of nonprofits that provide services.  

For much of the conference, participants work in small, self-managed groups.  The facilitator guides the process, but the participants own the information.  At the end of three days, people usually leave tired, but inspired.  With a vision in front of them and new relationships built during the conference, they are ready to get to work.  Future search conferences are known for having a ripple effect, with actions months and even years in the future traceable to the original conference.

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