Group Relations Conferences: Reviewing and Exploring Theory, Design, Role-Taking and Application

In November 2003, a four-day residential conference on group relations conferences for group relations conference staff members was held in Belgirate, Italy, organised by Avi Nutkevitch of OFEK, The Israel Association for the Study of Group and Organizational Processes, and Mannie Sher of The Tavistock Institute, London.

The primary task of the conference was to review and explore the theory and design, the taking up of roles in, and the application of group relations conferences. The Belgirate conference, as it came to be known, was intended to be a ‘space’ of the kind that is not normally available during group relations conferences themselves. It was intended to review and explore dilemmas and questions that lie at the heart of group relations work. The absence of appropriate opportunities to explore these questions is a source of frustration and guilt. It is an abiding principle in group relations conferences that staff work through their own particular conceptual and other issues, just as conference members are expected to do. This principle is related to and is in the service of the undertaking by staff to do everything possible that promotes the conference's primary task and of furthering the learning of the dynamic relatedness between individuals, groups, organisations and society. The Belgirate conference was, therefore, designed as a particular structured opportunity for reviewing, exploring and learning more about the different aspects of group relations conference design, dynamic and delivery. The conference was conceptualised and designed as a ‘transitional space’ that would contain traditional scientific modes of learning, such as lectures and