30 January - 2 February 2005

This workshop is built around a simulated Future Search chosen by participants as part of the learning design. It will also be led by Sandra Janoff and Marvin Weisbord.

People then have a basis for a shared experience of the techniques for building community, helping a diverse group develop a mutual world view, creating desired futures, establishing common ground, expanding their range of choices, and moving into action. Included are interactive sessions on planning, facilitation, and follow-up.

Basic principles and techniques:

Four key principles underlie the Future Search design:

• Getting the “whole system” in the room
• Exploring the global context (“whole elephant”) as a backdrop for local action
• Focusing on common futures rather than conflicts and problems
• Inviting self-management and personal responsibility for action.

These principles account for the widespread success of Future Search. You will learn how they function to help people make better communities and organisations. You also will learn techniques that bring the principles alive – e.g. timelines, mind- maps, worksheets, common ground wall, self organising action groups, and the critical interplay between small group tasks and whole conference dialogue.

Workshop participants learn:

• Key issues in matching conference goals and participants;
• A theory and practice of facilitating large, diverse groups;
• How to keep critical choices in the hands of participants;
• How freeing yourself from diagnosing and fixing enables diverse groups to come together faster;
• Basics principles and techniques useful in many other meetings.

The agenda includes:

• Theory, history, and dynamics of Future Search;
• Conditions for success;
• Conference planning and implementation;
• Output and follow-up;
• Facilitation skills and techniques;
• World-wide applications and strategies.