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Part 1 - How Whole System Interventions?

In the previous post, the background of Whole System Interventions(WSI) i.e. what does it mean and why did it come into the picture has been described. As mentioned WSI is and approach and it can be met via multiple methods. This post will describe the methods will be described in brief by exploring their processes, and the role of a consultant in each of them

Future Search 


The objective of Future Search is to create and enact an organization that the stakeholders desire. It is based on egalitarian notions and the process involves inviting select stakeholders to a conference. Thereafter, data is gathered from all participants, the same participants analyze and reduce the data in a manageable and meaningful way, then work towards establishing an agreement among themselves participants based on commonly held views and ideals. The conference usually ends with a long list of action steps that the group has collectively agreed upon and specific individuals have taken responsibility to implement.

The role of a consultant is that of a manager of the process who ensures that the participants make decisions by themselves which in turn creates ownership.

Search Conference


A search conference enables members of an organization to plan for its desirable future. It has 3 stages, the first stage requires the participants to engage in exercises that would them to learn about their turbulent, uncertain global environment. The second stage involves reflection of the systems past and present to make a decision on how the future(desirable to all) of the system should look like. The third stage involves developing a plan to achieve the goal of a desirable future.

Though each search conference is enacted in different ways, the generic process is as follows:

1. Changes in the World Important Into the Future Desirable and Probable Future of the World 
2. Our System's History: Where We Came From 
3. Our Current System: What to Keep, Drop, and Create 
4. Our Most Desirable System 
5. Strategies and Actions Plans 
6. Community Grows and Diffuses Through Implementation

The role of a consultant is similar to that of Future Search, wherein he/she is just a manager of the process who ensures that the participants make decisions by themselves which in turn creates ownership. The conference has no presenters, lectures, speeches, keynote addresses, simulations, and exercises, or training sessions. 

Open Space


Open Space is a technique wherein individuals are invited to share their ideas and opinions provided they are willing to take up responsibility from them. Here responsibility means organizing people and taking the idea to fruition. There are four rules and one law guiding the method.

The Four Rules state: 
1. Whoever comes are the right people 
2. Whatever happens, is the only thing that could have 
3. Whenever it starts is the right time 
4. When it’s over, it’s over

The Law of Two Feet states that: “If, during the course of the gathering, any person finds themselves in a situation where they are neither learning nor contributing, they can go to some more productive place.”

The role of the change agent is to introduce the concept, the theme, the simple process the group will follow to organize and create a record, where to put things up and find out what is happening, the Law of Two Feet, and the Principles of Open Space.  Then, the facilitator also invites people on to the stage and announce the issue that he/she cares about. The process goes on till all the issues have been put up on the wall, thereafter the facilitator calls on people to sign up for what they are interested in and take responsibility for their schedules.
People participate in discussions, and all relevant data is put on their space/wall. In the closing circle, all the members are asked to reconvene to discuss their key learnings and are encouraged to continue working on the issue.

In the next post, the other methods of intervention will be described

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