New Initiative for Organisational Change and Community Development in Australia

Josephine Rydberg, the Managing Director of IKEA described it as ‘inspirational’. A Sydney based CEO called it ‘fantastic’. City of Sydney staff called it ‘extraordinary’. A UN Coordinator labelled it ‘exceptional’. The Chair of a Sydney based Business Partnership characterised it as ‘brilliant’. A Northern Ireland Permanent Secretary referred to it as ‘powerful’. The approach they were talking about has now been launched in Australia like never before.

Sydney, Australia (EMWNews) July 17, 2008 — Josephine Rydberg, the Managing Director of IKEA described it as ‘inspirational’. A Sydney based CEO called it ‘fantastic’. City of Sydney staff called it ‘extraordinary’. A UN Coordinator labelled it ‘exceptional’. The Chair of a Sydney based Business Partnership characterised it as ‘brilliant’. A Northern Ireland Permanent Secretary referred to it as ‘powerful’.

The approach they were talking about has now been launched in Australia like never before.

What they were talking about is an approach to organisational change and community development called Future Search and it has now arrived like never before with the creation of the Australian Future Search Network (AFSN).

The Future Search approach is based on over 60 years of management theory and practice and was developed by Marv Weisbord and Sandra Janoff. (Marv is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International OD Network and his book Productive Workplaces was voted one of the top 5 OD texts of the last 40 years).

It is based on the idea that despite the awesome benefits of online technology, the best approach to organisational change and community development is face to face meetings of a diverse group of internal and external stakeholders – called the ‘whole system’. (Modern technology can supplement face to face meetings but never replace them.)

The new Network has been created as an affiliate of the international Future Search Network and its creator Joe Bowers said “For those interested in organisational change and community development, I don’t know of a better approach.”

As well as providing an informative website and facilitators for the approach, the AFSN is bringing Weisbord and Janoff to Australia in October 2008 for a workshop which will enable organisational and community leaders, managers and consultants to understand and use these principles.

The Workshop is based on Weisbord and Janoff’s recent bestseller Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There! Ten Principles for Leading Meetings That Matter.

One user of the approach, Deidre Anderson, CEO, U@MQ, Macquarie University said “I can honestly say that I have never seen such an approach produce such positive outcomes, goodwill and energy.” (Full testimonial and outcomes available from AFSN website).

The Future Search approach is based on 8 principles which when combined make for extraordinary change in organisations and communities.

For more information call Joe Bowers on 0403 395 488.