OS in China

[owen]

At 11:18 PM 6/15/99 +0800, you wrote:
>
> I have just gotten into some conversations about the reaction to Chinese
> groups to an Open Space event.  My gut reaction is that it would work after
> the initial shock of the extreeme egalitarianism and opportunity to take
> responsibility for the agenda and content.  However, I do not have any
> empirical data to back this up.
>
> Do any of you have stories about doing programs in a Chinese or Asian
> environment, and what has been the response of the participants?


****************************************************
As I suspected, Brian Bainbridge had some useful thougfhts. He copied me his
responseto Mark, and I thought thqat others on the list might enjoy so....

Harrison

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 23:18:21 -0700
From: Fr Brian S Bainbridge <briansb at mira.net>
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Subject: Mark Pixley - Re OS in "Asia"
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Dear Mark
Not sure if I told you when last we connected, but - as Harrison
mentioned - I did some programming in Hong Kong and in Beijing a year or
so back.
Without getting into dramatic detail, I need to say that in both places
the structure of Open Space took on life just as it has done in so many
other places, including Papua New Guinea (is that Asia also, do you
think?) and Guam (which perhaps isn't Asia, maybe).
There has been discussion about language barriers, but I found none of
that and rather experienced the option - as I have in Europe - that once
they get into the process, there is eagerness to ensure that everyone
understands and shares thoroughly.
In both the Hong Kong and Beijing programs, there were clear decisions
reached, and in both cases the decisions were not those anticipated by
the management but better and more meaningful.
Especially in the Beijing program, there was great energy generated,
there was great enthusiasm, and great depth of sharing.  They figured
that it was simply not on that they did not have time to get to know one
another and so understand the extent and strength of the resources
available within the company - so it seemed obvious to them that they had
to make time to change that by getting to just spend time with the other
members of the company.  A very simple but remarkable outcome, it seems,
and the results have been of great impact and usefulness to the people
and the company involved.
And, Mark, I remain mindful of youur request that, if I am again in Asia,
you might be able to be involved.  Likewise, may I suggest, if you can
get into Australia (it's very close to Hong Kong) come and see what
happens.
Cheers and blessings,       BRIAN.



Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854   USA
301-469-9269 (phone)
301-983-9314 (fax)
email owen at tmn.com
Website http://www.tmn.com/~owen
Open Space Institute website
http://www.tmn.com/openspace
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