The meeting design comes from theories and principles tested in many cultures fro the past 50 years.  It relies on mutual learning among stakeholders as a catalyst for voluntary action and follow-up.  People devise new forms of cooperation that continue for months or years. 

Hundreds of people have taken the Future Search Conference methodology.  The have come from Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Carribean, Europe, India, South America and the United States.  People from every section -- public and private, have gone to stimulate positive social, technological and economic cooperation around the gloe.

Usually four or five sessions each lasting 1/2 day.

• Day 1, Afternoon

• Focus on the Past
• Focus on the Present, External Trends

• Day 2, Morning

• External Trends; Focus on the Present, Owning Our Actions

Day 2, Afternoon

• Ideal Future Scenarios; Identify Common Ground

• Day 3, Morning & Early Afternoon

• Confirm Common Ground; Action Planning

Future Search in Business:  Businesses use future search to:

• Create a vision and strategic direction.
• Build organizational unity after a merger or re-structuring.
• Improve performance of the whole.
• Support quality, productivity and safety plans.
• Create key partnerships and alliances.
• Develop community partnerships.
• Accelerate existing plans and strategies.

Future Search in Higher Education: 

• Institution-wide strategic planning and visioning processes
• Building stronger relationships with surrounding communities/organizations
• Building a "world-class" academic  program
• The future of an academic college
• Institutional service to the community
• Retention of students
• Planning for administrative technology systems and infrastructure

Future Search in Government: 

• Future Search could be called democracy in action. 
• Planners, politicians, community members, government personnel, business people, public safety agencies, nonprofits and others join together in a common focused conversation, giving each a chance to fully voice their perspective. 
• Future Search builds the kind of involvement and shared ownership that drives sustainable, positive and implementable results.