The conference can be seen as a key strategic tool to be used in linking a diverse
array of participants, through communicative processes, to achieve the level of
integration required by new organizational forms, such as a contractual net
work. The present research models the necessary prior conditions for conference
success, conference process variables, conference outcomes, and long-term
consequences of effective integration for an organization that ultimately deter
mine the effectiveness of a conference as an integrating mechanism. In general,
the most important elements of the model in this empirical test were those
associated with planning. Individuals get out of conferences what they put into
them; old-timers who were active in the planning of the conference had very
positive reactions. Thus, one way of enhancing conferences for all participants
would be involving more people in their planning and execution.
Conferences are, however, exceedingly expensive and only in special circum
stances will their use as integrating mechanisms be justified. There are also
circumstances where too much integration becomes a bad thing for an organiza
tion and not all conferences will be effective integrating mechanisms. Generally,
organizations which could successfully utilize a conference will be faced with
one or another of the following circumstances: a high level of differentiation
with many functional subunits, a high need to maintain an organizational
culture, or a highly dynamic environment.
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