Essay Sample on Future Search: The Need for Immediate System Change in Businesses

Characterized by the need for meeting upcoming want, the term future search involves purposeful identification and design, as stated by Marvin Meisbord. In other words, the need for future search is to provide a framework that will meet an organization's system future through identification of aim and ideas necessary for the success of the firm (Norum, 2005). From the loose definition of and background of the term future search, it is evident that the firm I work for need immediate coming together to channel a typical course towards meeting the objectives and goals that drive the functions of the company. N the organization I work for, the main issue that the company faces is accusation of pollution of the environment from both the community and local organizations. The specific departments that need to meet to reap the advantages of this move include external environmental health and safety, production, technical planning team and corporate support. These people should come together in a meeting to agree on the standard value and purpose in production. Recently, the firm has been facing abuse and legal suit regarding its impact on the environment (Norum, 2005). Secondly, by coming together the two organizations will create the desired future, not only for the employees and the stakeholders but also for the people living in the surrounding neighborhoods. A total number of 66 people representing all the involved bodies would be present representing the needs of their interest groups.

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Currently, the biggest issue facing the organization I work for that may be overcome through open space technology is employees' turnover rates which have been high over the past year. Defined as the percentage or number of personnel who leave an organization, employees' turnover rate has been high due to what former workers cite as poor working condition. Through creation of inspired meeting and events, open space technology, the workers within the organization will talk about the challenges and get inspired. The inspiration will bring ordinary employees together to do tasks that lead to extraordinary outcomes. Over the years, the management at the organization has been overlooking the complaints from most employees regarding lack of career growth and development and little to no opportunity for decision-making. Productive employees need to know that they have a chance to grow for them to continue working for the organization. Most workers complaining feel trapped in positions they consider dead-end. Majority of the workers, therefore, look towards other companies offering the needed opportunities.

A second reason for high turnover is that most employees feel that they are not included in necessary decision-making process which is critical in what they do. The complaint is always about micromanagement even in crucial decisions that touch on the personal issues related to the workers. The open space technology is the best bet for overcoming the challenge of high employee turnover because it involves creation and management of own agenda by the participants. As mentioned in Leith (1996), open space technique is suitable for substantial group intervention. The challenge of employee turnover affects an entire firm which needs to come together from all branches and discuss the proposed ideas from management's perspective and those suggested by the employees. Through an interactive open space technology, this challenge will be overcome as everyone, including the junior employees, will feel involved in the crucial decision-making processes.

Resolving the challenge of employees' turnover needs a multi-sectoral approach that considers the needs of the workers and what the management offers. For effective implementation, therefore, open space technology event must consider who to invite during such essential events (Nixon, 1998). During the initial planning, I would include all the current employees from junior to the most senior position. From the plan, these workers can then pick representatives depending on how they agree amongst themselves and the prevailing interest. Additionally, the primary method including inviting stakeholders who will listen to the interest of the employees before deciding on the best alternative out of this situation. Finally, I will include outside intervening group to ensure a harmonious agreement is reached between the parties involved. Individual speakers and moderators bringing the two together will be an added advantage for the success of the meeting. Depending on the agreed employees' representatives, the total number of individuals in the meeting would range between two hundred and four hundred since this is a large organization. The number should be this high since the issue the organization faces is a serious one that needs deep understanding and corporation with interest of everyone represented during the open space technology event. Finally, increased coordination is necessary for the meeting to succeed (Owen, 2008). Coordination between the employees, shareholders and the special guest gracing the occasion to moderate must be high before and during the invent to increase the likelihood of the two groups to work together. Another exceptional plan detail is inviting guests during the last day of the open space event holding the same capacity as the employees to have an open discussion about the possibility of improved situation.

References

Leith, M. (1996). Organizational change and large group interventions. Career Development International, 1(4), 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/13620439610124675

Nixon, B. (1998). Creating the futures we desire-getting the whole system into the room: Part I. Industrial and Commercial Training, 30(1), 4-11. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197859810197681

Norum, K. E. (2005). Future search conversation. In Dialogue as a means of collective communication (pp. 323-333). Springer, Boston, MA. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diane_Gayeski/publication/226677964_Corporate_Conversation/links/00b7d537fa0077d674000000.pdf#page=320

Owen, H. (2008). A brief user's guide to Open Space Technology. Nd [http://www. openspaceworld. com/users_guide.html.