Applying Future Search Conferences to Process Improvement

March 6, 2003

Location: Electrical Engineering/Computer Science Bldg., Room EE/CS 3-180

Abstract:

This meeting will be a demonstration of a Project Review Process based on “Future Search Conferences” defined by Marvin R. Weisbrod at the University of Michigan. Originally used for community planning, Future Search Conferences apply to many contexts that require finding common vision of an exciting future.

This Project Review Process uses a three-stage model based on a search for common ground and building a shared vision of the future.

The process stages are:

1. Examine the past to determine what went well and what could have been better. Everyone votes on the three most important items in each list.
2. Determine current positive and negative forces. Everyone votes on top three.
3. Build a shared action plan for future improvements. Everyone votes on the top three priorities.

The facilitator, Bruce Zemlin, recently helped several major software organizations achieve CMM Level 2 and 3 maturity assessments.

Starting in 1962, he developed, delivered, and supported over 15 million SLOC. After discovering Constantine’s work on structured programming in the sixties and learning quality methods from Crosby and Deming in the seventies, he has been connected with the SEI and CMM since the eighties.

The SEI used a Future Search Conference at the beginning of CMM Development.

The workshop facilitator, with coaching from a former student of Weisbrod, used it to review and plan process and quality improvement in software groups as small as five and as large as seventy.

The following files related to this presentation are available for download:

A Workshop on Applying Future Search Conferences to Process Improvement
Type: application/msword, Size: 38 KB
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Project Review Process
Type: application/rtf, Size: 75 KB
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Memo: Post Implementation Review Meeting Announcement
Type: application/rtf, Size: 7 KB
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Review of lessons learned for future projects
Type: application/rtf, Size: 40 KB
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Proposal for Consulting Services
Type: application/rtf, Size: 30 KB
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