Search Conference

Purpose

The Search Conference, developed by Fred and Merrelyn Emery, enables a community or organization to take collective ownership of its future. Participants scan the external environment, build shared understanding of trends and forces, create ideals for their system, and design concrete action plans — all in a compressed timeframe. The method is grounded in open systems theory: the system must understand its environment to adapt effectively.

At a glance

How to run

1. Environmental scan (25 min). Whole group brainstorms: What are the most important changes happening in our broader environment (social, technological, economic, political, ecological)? Capture on large wall charts.
2. Identify desirable and probable futures (20 min). Small groups sort environmental trends into desirable vs. probable. Where are the gaps? What could we influence?
3. System history (15 min). Create a shared timeline of the organization's or community's key milestones, turning points, and proudest achievements.
4. Idealized design (25 min). Small groups answer: If we could design this system from scratch, knowing what we know about the environment and our history, what would it look like? Present ideal designs.
5. Constraints and barriers (15 min). Identify what stands between current reality and the ideal. Distinguish "can change" from "must work around."
6. Action planning (20 min). Self-managing groups form around the most important gaps. Each group drafts an action plan with milestones, owners, and first steps.

Materials needed

• Large wall charts for environmental scan and timeline
• Markers and sticky notes in multiple colors
• Self-managing group guidelines printed
• Action plan templates
• Timer

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Facilitator over-managing. The Search Conference relies on self-managing groups. The facilitator sets the structure but does not control the content.
• Skipping the environmental scan. Without understanding the external context, ideals become inward-looking wishes.
• Homogeneous participant group. Include people from all levels, functions, and relevant external stakeholders.
• No follow-through mechanism. Action groups need a clear mandate and timeline post-conference.

Inclusion & accessibility

• Ensure participant selection represents the full diversity of the system.
• Provide environmental scan data in advance for participants who need preparation time.
• Use multiple input modes (verbal, written, visual) to capture diverse thinking styles.
• Choose an accessible venue with support for hearing, vision, and mobility needs.

Variations

• Mini Search Conference: One-day version focusing on one strategic question.
• Virtual Search Conference: Spread across multiple shorter sessions with async environmental scanning.
• Community Search Conference: Adapted for civic groups with public invitation.

When NOT to use this

• When leadership has already decided the strategy and is not open to participant input.
• When the external environment is so stable that scanning adds no value (rare).
• When the participant group cannot represent the full system.

Source & further reading

• Emery, M. & Purser, R. E. (1996). *The Search Conference: A Powerful Method for Planning Organizational Change and Community Action*. Jossey-Bass.
• Emery, F. & Trist, E. (1965). "The Causal Texture of Organizational Environments." *Human Relations*, 18(1).
• Weisbord, M. R. & Janoff, S. (2010). *Future Search*. 3rd ed. Berrett-Koehler.