THIS NATIONAL TRAINING LABORATORIES (NTL) CONFERENCE, DEPARTING SOMEWHAT FROM ITS USUAL EXPERIENCE-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS, FOCUSED LABORATORY TRAINING METHODS ON THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN URBAN COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING. THE CONFERENCE PRESENTED THEORY, INFORMATION, AND OPINION ON THE NATURE OF CITIES AND THEIR DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES. GROUPS OF PARTICIPANTS STUDIED THE RATIONAL-TECHNICAL-SOCIAL PROCESS FRAMEWORK OF DECISION MAKING AND FORCE FIELD ANALYSIS, AND A CONCEPT OF FORCES FOR CHANGE VERSUS RESTRAINING FORCES. PARTICIPANTS DEALT WITH TWO APPROACHES TO SOCIAL CHANGE--THE CONFLICT-OPPOSITIONAL STRATEGY AND THE COLLABORATION-INTEGRATIVE STRATEGY ONE GROUP EXAMINED WAYS OF ENLISTING MAXIMUM FEASIBLE PARTICIPATION OF THE POOR IN URBAN DECISION MAKING, ESPECIALLY IN THE WAR ON POVERTY. FINDINGS WERE CONSOLIDATED AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE ON MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO URBAN CHANGE. PARTICIPANTS PLANNED HOW THEY WOULD INFLUENCE CHANGE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. A FINAL EVALUATION OF THE CONFERENCE WAS MADE BY PARTICIPANTS. THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES NINE REFERENCES, CASE STUDIES OF SEVERAL CITIES, DISCUSSION TRANSCRIPTS AND OTHER RECORDS, AND APPENDIXES. THIS DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL TRAINING LABORATORIES, 1201 SIXTEENTH STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036, FOR $3.50. (LY)