The Conference Model: Collaborating for Change

This booklet gives an overview of The Conference Model, a change strategy which engages the critical mass needed for success in redesigning organizations and processes, co-creating a vision of the future, improving customer and supplier relationships, or achieving strategic alignment.

The Conference Model was the original methodology to engage large numbers of people in systemwide change through a series of integrated conferences and walkthrus. The model consists of four elements: *

a series of integrated conferences *

the “walkthru” process *

simple commitments *

supporting mechanisms

Conferences create an open exchange of information, increased understanding of the system under consideration, new agreements and actions, and enhanced relationships among participants.

A key Conference Model feature is linking an integrated series of conferences usually spaced four to six weeks apart. The complex problems facing organizations today do not lend themselves to instant answers. Crucial to creating high-quality solutions to complex issues is the ability to examine them at increasing levels of depth. A series of integrated conferences provides that mechanism. Multiple conferences also create a critical mass of people supporting the change by involving more and varied participants over time.

Conference Model applications include redesigning processes, creating organizational futures, developing new organizational cultures, integrating organizational units/processes, creating self-directed work teams, improving union-management cooperation, and creating organizational alignment with new strategic directions.
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Synopsis The Collaborating for Change series offers concise, comprehensive overviews of 14 leading change strategies in a convenient, inexpensive format. Adapted from chapters in The Change Handbook, each approximately 48-page booklet is written by the originator of the change strategy or an expert practitioner, and includes *

An example of the strategy in action *

Tips for getting started *

An outline of roles, responsibilities, and relationships *

Conditions for success *

Keys to sustaining results *

Thought-provoking questions for discussion If you're deciding on a change strategy for your organization and you need a short, focused treatment of several alternatives to distribute to your colleagues... Or if you've decided on a change strategy and want to disseminate information about it to get everyone on board, the Collaborating for Change booklets are the ideal choice. Other titles in the Collaborating for Change series: *

Appreciative Inquiry *

The Conference Model *

Future Search *

Gemba Kaizen *

Open Space Technology *

The Organization Workshop *

Participative Design Workshop *

Preferred Futuring *

Real Time Strategic Change *

The Search Conference *

The Strategic Forum *

The Think Like a Genius Process *

Whole-Scale Change *

Whole Systems Approach