Search Conference
Search Conference makes it possible for any group, whether in the community or the workplace, to thrive in the face of fast and unrelenting change. Mobilizing a company for the new business environment now requires the creativity and commitment of all people throughout an organization.
The Search Conference is a participative planning method that fosters full participation, cooperation, and learning toward the most desirable future of an organization. People commit to plans they have put effort into creating.
For example, a company can conduct a search conference to utilize input from clients to improve a product line or develop new services. The environmental scan of a search conference can be used continuously to examine the business climate for opportunities and threats.
The search conference begins with the group learning about its changing environment. Next, the group searches through its past and present to develop the most desirable future. Then they develop strategies and action plans that they will implement.
Every Search Conference is unique, requiring special planning and design. There are no set activities to take off the shelf and dust off for simple use. The activities are designed to fit each context, and the generic method is:
- Changes in the World and our Industry Important to Our Future
- Our Organization's History: Where We Came From
- Our Current Organization: What to Keep, Drop, and Create
- The Most Desirable Future for Our Organization
- Strategies and Action Plans
- Organization Grows Through Implementation
Components of the search conference can be modified and used continuously by an organization. For example, as decisions are made people can check them against the changing reality of the external business environment. You can use the environmental scan to ask:
- What do we need to pay attention to as we create products or services for our clients?
- What do we want to keep doing that is working?
- What do we want to stop doing that is not?
- What do we want to create?
At Microsoft, search conferences are used to promote innovation and new product development. They have conducted over 35 of these strategic planning sessions over the past four years. Components of the Search Conference can be modified and used continuously to improve an organization's performance.