Overview: Development can be seen as an on-going process in which past and future meet in the present. Current choices and actions influence future events. Shared vision can open paths to comfortable change and future development.

How Future Search Works: It is a strategic process for everyone to view the whole system and to explore, discuss, and make choices about their shared:

• past,
• present, and
• future.

Participants identify common ground--where all can stand without force or compromise. United in this common "reality," participants can become aware of their shared interests. New forms of collaboration that support a group's goals and purpose can naturally and comfortably grow out of this process--and provide a framework for future plans.

The Payoff: Used to bring about change in group or organizational culture. People with diverse interests can join to create shared meaning and vision, build consensus, and develop strategic plans. While the process is designed to focus on possibility and not problems, it can be used to identify concerns and solutions and to set priorities. It supports team-building and committed action. It is linked to the kinds of group dynamics that foster communication, creativity, cohesiveness, motivation, and connection of "heart and mind."
It involves everyone in a system/organization or a representative cross-section of people from all levels (usually about 30 to 85 people). Participants need to be willing to engage in open dialog and to accept differences--and to be willing to explore, discover, learn, create, and plan together.

How to Make It Happen: Future search conferences join participant dialog with facilitator supported knowledge about issues and trends to "develop visions" and strategic plans for the future. The search focuses on a single organization's needs, but often discovers opportunities to link with other organizations around common goals. Many interest groups and organizations have used these tools for group process in the U.S. and world wide. Usually requires 2 to 3 days.

Weisbord, M.R. & 35 international authors, (1992), Common Ground: How Future Search Conferences Bring People Together to Achieve Breakthrough Innovation, Empowerment, Shared Vision, and Collaborative Action, San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publisher.