Future Search brings people from all walks of life into the same conversation – those with authority, resources, expertise, information and need. People tell stories about their past, present and desired future, discovering common ground and then making concrete action plans.
Problems and Purpose
Future Search is a principle-based, tasked-focused planning meeting, designed to help participants act on their capacity for action and create new forms of cooperation that continue for months or years. The method is designed to accommodate as many as 100 people in one room or hundreds of people in parallel rooms. Future Search uses mutual learning as a catalyst for voluntary action and follow-up.
The method is based on the following principles:
- "Get the “whole system” in the room. Invite a significant cross-section of all parties with a stake in the outcome – those with authority, resources, expertise, information and need.
- Explore the “whole elephant” before seeking to fix any part. Get everyone talking about the same world. Think globally, act locally.
- Put common ground and future focus front and center while treating problems and conflicts as information, not action items.
- Encourage self-management and responsibility for action by participants before, during and after the Future Search."[1]
Origins and Development
The Future Search meeting method was designed over 50 years by practitioners Sandra Janoff and Marv Weisbord.[2] It is informed by many theories and principles tested in a broad range of cultures. Future Searches have been run in every sector of society all over the world.[1]
Participant Recruitment and Selection
A cross-selection of relevant stakeholders – those with authority, resources, expertise, information and needs particular to the issue – are invited to take part.
How it Works: Process, Interaction, and Decision-Making
Future Searches generally run for 20 hours across five 1/2 day sessions.
Day 1: Afternoon
Focus on the Past: participants create time lines to illustrate key events in the world, their own lives, and in the topic under consideration at the meeting. Participants are then convened in small groups to share their time line and discuss its implications on their work.
Focus on Present, External Trends: Participants are convened as a whole group to create a “mind map” of trends affecting them now and to identify the key trends for their topic.
Day 2: Morning
Focus on Present, External Trends: stakeholder groups describe their current activities and future plans/goals.
Focus on Present: stakeholder groups report their successes and regrets in dealing with the Future Search topic.
Day 2: Afternoon
Ideal Future Scenarios: participants are split into diverse groups and asked to imagine themselves in the future and to describe what it would optimally be and look like.
Identify Common Ground: each group records the themes they reached a consensus on.
Day 3: Morning & Early Afternoon
Confirm Common Ground: participations are convened as a whole group to discuss and come to agreement on the themes of common ground. Common Ground Statements are written by volunteers to reflect the will of those present.
Action Planning: volunteers sign up to implement action plans.[3]
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
Future Search meetings are designed to move beyond planning and into action. Action plans devised during the meetings are put into work immediately following the conference. Planners are encouraged to build connections during the event and to obtain commitments to and support for the actions resulting from the process. According to its developers, the best time to act on an action plan is right after the meeting, and to do so quickly and efficiently. The longer the implementation process, the less effective it will be. The designers suggest each action group convenes small versions of the Future Search to keep members focused and on common ground. Review Meetings that revisit action outcomes are generally held 6 – 9 months after the initial meeting.[4]
Analysis and Lessons Learned
If followed, the following list of principles and conditions contributes to the success of a Future Search meeting:
- "Get the “whole system” in the room. Invite a significant cross-section of all parties with a stake in the outcome.
- Explore the “whole elephant” before seeking to fix any part. Get everyone talking about the same world. Think globally, act locally.
- Put common ground and future focus front and center while treating problems and conflicts as information, not action items.
- Encourage self-management and responsibility for action by participants before, during, and after the Future Search.
- Urge full attendance – keep part-time participants to a minimum.
- Meet under healthy conditions – this means airy rooms with windows, healthy snacks and meals, adequate breaks.
- Work across three days (sleep twice) – people need “soak time” to take in everything that happens.
- Ask for voluntary public commitments to specific next steps before people leave."[5]
Want to contribute an analysis of this method? Help us complete this section!
See Also
References
[1] “What Is Future Search?,” Future Search, accessed May 2, 2019, http://futuresearch.net/about/whatis/.
[2] Annie Rappeport, “Who Will You Invite? An Exploration of Stakeholder Selection in Dialogue and Deliberation,” NCDD, accessed May 2, 2019, http://ncdd.org/29232.
[3] “Methodology,” Future Search, accessed May 2, 2019, http://futuresearch.net/about/methodology/.
[4] "FAQs," Future Search, accessed May 2 2019, http://futuresearch.net/about/faqs/
[5] "Future Search Principles and Conditions for Success," Future Search, accessed May 2, 2019, http://futuresearch.net/about/principlesandconditions/
