close open_in_new

Future search and Search conferences are two different things.


Future search ("future search" is not capitalized) is not owned by anyone and all are encouraged to use the process and experiment with it. It is supported by a network of people called the Future Search Network.


Future search includes a planning process and a 16-18 hour meeting usually including two overnights. Participants discover a set of shared values or themes called common ground and build new dynamics such as inclusion and collaboartion into their organization or community. It is an open system process, which means it considers anyone a necessary participant who can affect, is affected by or has important information or experience related to the task at hand. This often means that individuals from outside the immediate boundaries of the group will be invited to participate in both the planning and implementation. In this way, those with the power to make decisions sit down to work together - with equal voices - with those affected and those who have important relevant information or experience. During the conference, and once common ground is discovered, an open space process is used to bring people with shared interests together to decide how to implement the common ground themes. Future search can help an organization or community * even one with strong conflicts or a wide diversity of ideas or interests * establish a basis from which it can move forward effectively. Future search does not ask people to compormise or change their positions. In fact it creates a context in which all perspectives are fully expressed and fully understood. It supports the group in understanding where it has come from, what it has to work with, where its shared hopes and dreams lie and how it might move forward to effectively implement these hopes and dreams, without suppressing or denying any part of its shared experience. It is rooted deeply in the dynamics of full inclusion and full participation.


I don't know these references and suspect they are not really focused on future search. I think the original material here confused future search and search conferences.


  • Future Search Network (http://www.futuresearch.net)
  • Convention of Scottish Local Authorities. (1998). Focusing on Citizens: A Guide to Approaches and Methods. Available at: http://www.communityplanning.org.uk/documents/Engagingcommunitiesmethods.pdf [accessed 3 Jan 2002].
  • Inter-America Development Bank. (1996) Resource Book on Participation. http://www.iadb.org/exr/ENGLISH/POLICIES/participate/ [accessed 3 Jan 2002].
  • International Association For Public Participation IAP2 Public Participation Toolbox (2000)
  • New Economics Foundation & UK Participation Network. (1998). Participation Works: 21 Techniques. http://www.neweconomics.org/default.asp?strRequest=pubs&strContext=pubdetails&intPubID=16 [accessed 3 Jan 2002]
  • O'Connor, Desmond, M (1985-1994) Constructive Citizen Participation: A Resource Book. Victoria, BC: Connor Development Services. Fifth Edition 1994
  • Sarkissian, W., Perlgut, D & Ballard, E. (eds.) (1986) Community Participation in Practice in The Community Participation Handbook: resources for public involvement in the planning process. Roseville, NSW. Impacts Press.
  • Wates, N. (1999) The Community Planning Handbook. London, Earthscan.

This page originally copied with permission from the Citizens Science Toolbox (It is now almost not recognizable)


[Future Search][http://www.openingspace.net/facilitation_facilitationMethods6.shtml] - a chart from Peggy Holman and Tom Devane's //The Change Handbook: Group Methods for Shaping the Future//, Reprinted with permission of the publisher. Copyright *1999 by Peggy Holman and Tom Devane Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA. Adapted to online form by Lisa Heft.

Category Practice | Category Large Group Intervention