At a future conference participants selected from all the interest groups affected draw up programmes and action plans for forthcoming projects in line with a predetermined schedule.

Suitable

• for long-term planning procedures and projects at communal level, or in organizations concerned with future-related issues

Sequence of events: five phases

• Thinking over the past
• Analysing the present
• Developing visions of the future
• Filtering out common denominators
• Planning concrete measures

At a future conference the participants start by working together in homogenous groups of 6 to 8 persons. During the proceedings these groups are systematically reshuffled – each group thus makes contact with the other groups. The aim is to bring about a sense of a common bond, and thus to facilitate the collective search for possible new solutions.

Participants

Interested citizens, representatives of interest groups, experts, politicians, administrators

Points to note

• Future conferences can perfectly well be employed in conflict-ridden situations, but are unsuitable where a straight yes/no decision is involved.
• Care must be taken to ensure an even-handed, representative selection when the participants are chosen.