The steering committee must articulate its wants and goals from the topic or topics, then articulate its conference expected outcomes, and also boundaries and ground rules.)

Potential Topic:
How can we redesign our internal operations to be less bureaucratic and more responsive to our customer’s needs?

The Proposal is for a series of two, one day conferences.

First Conference Day:

Objectives:
• Develop a business case for making a change;
• Articulate notions that are required and those not required for the future.

Methodology:
• In structured buzz groups.

Review the past:
• What is it about our past defines us?

Explore the present:
• What are the things we don't like about what we are currently doing?
• What dysfunctional notions (rules, norms, and beliefs) exist currently?
• What current practices are keeping us from being satisfied?
NOTE: Conduct a "rest in peace" activity.
• What notions do we need to preserve or implant ?
• What practices currently exist that should be preserved?

Explore our vision for the future:
• What (ideally) should "a more responsive organization" look like?
• What are the most valuable things or activities contained in this topic?

Second Conference Day:

Objectives:
• Create a vision for our future;
• Plan how to get to the future.

Methodology:
• In structured buzz groups.

Review results of previous conference.
• Brainstorm design ideas with criteria to reach the vision to the future.
• Analyze features of the design ideas.
• Select a preliminary design.
• Make a commitment.

(If there is time, begin to plan the implementation process.)

Print Friendly Version