The search conference
Subtitle: a powerful method for planning organizational change and community action
By: Merrelyn Emery, Ronald E. Purser ; epilogue by Fred Emery.
Contributors: Purser, Ronald E., 1956-
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Jossey-Bass public administration series
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Published: 1996
Place of publication: San Francisco, Calif
Language: eng
Number of pages: 320
Subjects: Organizational change -- Planning.; Strategic planning -- Employee participation.
Description: The Search Conference is not just another management tool, but a participative approach to planned change that engages the collective learning and creativity of large groups, inspiring people to find common ground around new strategies, future directions, and joint actions.

The process combines the best practices associated with strategic planning, systems thinking, and effective group communications - enabling participants to take part fully, rise above self-interest, and make decisions for the common good.

Written by Search Conference pioneer Merrelyn Emery and Ronald Purser, this book uses a wealth of illustrative examples from a wide variety of nonprofit, business, and public organizations that attest to the versatility of this important organization development intervention.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 307-314) and index.
Table of contents: title: The power of search conferences; title: Learning and planning our way to desirable futures; title: Uses and advantages of search conference methods; title: Understanding search conference principles; title: Planning in stable and turbulent environments; title: Open systems thinking and the power of human ideals; title: The strength of democratic learning; title: Conditions for creative collaboration; title: Three: strategies for effective search conferences; title: Planning for success; title: Designing the search conference for effectiveness; title: Managing the search conference; title: The search conference step by step; title: Conclusion : beyond stagnation and stalemate.