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The purpose
of the conference was to create a vision of how the Department
will have to function in the Millennium. This vision will serve
as the cornerstone for strategic planning processes throughout
the Department. Seventy people participated in the conference,
which was held at the Sugarbush Conference Center.
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What
actually happens at a future search conference?
Participants examine the "past" and "present"
of the organization. They propose a series of alternative scenarios
of the future visions they themselves are willing to make happen.
The whole conference then chooses a set of consensus goals and
methods from the collection of scenarios. Finally,
the entire group generates and commits to action steps. Being
at a future search persuades people their fondest hope for the
future can actually come to pass. They wind up contributing more
energy and staying power to the follow-up. For more information,
see the Web site of the professional organization of Future Search
Conference facilitators: www.futuresearch.net.
Who
will be invited to participate in this conference?
In order to chart out the best possible future for organization
or community, we need all relevant perspectives represented. The
planning committee will invite individuals from as many "stakeholder
groups" as possible. Within each one of these groups, we
will try to ensure as much diversity as possible. The people invited
will be asked to contribute their opinions and insights and to
take action after the conference to make a reality the vision
for the future developed at the conference
Why do participants
need to be there the entire two-and-a-half days?
The
future search process is carefully designed to help us understand
our common past, examine trends currently affecting us, and develop
action plans for a future that we choose to create. Every step
in the process is critical. We need your commitment to participate
in the whole process.
What do
participants have to do?
We want you
to share your knowledge, insights, experiences, ideas and concerns
for the future. It will be up to you to determine what to share
and what not to share. Two experienced consultants facilitate
the process we will be using, which is called "future search."
Future search has been used all over the world in government departments,
companies, nonprofit organizations and communities. It is designed
to allow everyone to contribute at a rate at which they are comfortable.
What
will be the outcome of this process?
A clear direction
for the future of an organization or community and a set of actions
to achieve that vision. Because of the diverse nature of the stakeholder
groups, and because they will have worked together over two and
a half days, and because they are the architects of the plan,
we expect the commitment to achieve the vision to be much higher
than traditional planning efforts. We can't say at this point
what direction this planning effort will take us; that will depend
on where the group of 64 finds common ground.
If
someone is invited and cannot come, can they send someone else
to take their place?
An
alternate will be selected by the planning committee.
Why
isn't X invited?
Obviously there
are many people qualified and able to represent important interests
in planning our department's future. The future search process
works best with a maximum of 64 people, so the planning committee
will select people in the key stakeholder groups who represent
the "whole system" we want to have at the conference.
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