U N I V E R S I T Y L I B R A R Y S Y S T E M , U N I V E R S I T Y O F P I T T S B U R G HO C T O B E R – N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1

FUTURE SEARCH ORIENTATION

FUTURE SEARCH CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES

• Highly interactive, collaborative approach• Gather information from all in short

period of time• Identify strategic actions that, if taken,

will make greatest positive difference• Develop and reveal common ground and

shared commitment

AGENDA FOR FUTURE SEARCH CONFERENCE

• Arrival • Welcome and introduction (Karen)• “Future Search” Interviews• Individuals Identify Themes• Break and Social Time• Groups Analyze Data and Prepare Action

Proposals• Group Reporters Prepare to Report Out• Reporters Present Themes and Action Proposals• Discussion, Wrap Up, Pick Up a Box Lunch

FUTURE SEARCH

• Structured interviews• Six questions• One of the questions is assigned to you;

you will interview 6 people on this question• You need to take notes on the answers to

your assigned question!• You will be interviewed on all questions

(including the one assigned to you)

STEP ONE: INTERVIEWING AND BEING INTERVIEWED

O N E O F T H E Q U E S T I O N S I S A S S I G N E D T O Y O U ; Y O U W I L L I N T E R V I E W 6 P E O P L E O N T H I S Q U E S T I O N

Y O U N E E D T O T A K E N O T E S O N T H E A N S W E R S T O Y O U R A S S I G N E D Q U E S T I O N !

SIX INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Looking three years into the future, what would you want our users to be saying about user services in the ULS?

2. What would you say are the major strengths of current ULS user services? What recent accomplishments or aspects of our user services are you most proud of?

3. What would you say are the major threats, limitations or internal barriers facing ULS user services? What aspects of ULS user services need to be improved?

4. What are some of the most important new opportunities for ULS user services over the next three years?

5. What strategies, objectives, projects, programs, or new initiatives related to user services should the ULS pursue over the next three years?

6.  What are some of the skills and competencies related to evolving user services that ULS staff will need to develop further in the coming 2 or 3 years? Which of these skills and competencies will be most important to our continued success?

ROOM SET UP DIAGRAM: ASSUMING 36 PARTICIPANTS

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STEP TWO: SIT DOWN BY YOURSELF TO THINK

TAKE A BREAK!

STEP THREE: WORK IN GROUPS

O N E O F T H E Q U E S T I O N S I S A SS I G N E D T O YO U ; YO U R G R O U P = T H E R E S T O F T H E P E O P L E W H O “ O W N E D ” T H E S A M E Q U E S T I O N

YOUR QUESTION / YOUR GROUP

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STEP FOUR: REPORTING OUT 1. Y O U R A N A LY S I S O F Y O U R I N T E R V I E W D A T A .

2. Y O U R A C T I O N P R O P O S A L S .3. P L E A S E W R I T E T H E M L E G I B LY O N F L I P C H A R T S !