Self-organizing, et al.

[owen]

At 09:56 AM 3/4/99 +0000, you wrote:
>Wow, this is really juicy, this self-organization/complex adaptive system
>stuff.  Ralph
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Right on Ralph!!!!

The relationship between Open Space and self-organizing systems is one to one
so far as I am concerned. The connection, however, doesn't make a great deal of
difference in terms of "proving" Open Space or something like that. If only
because Open Space needs no proof. It just is and seems to do quite well by
itself.

        But I have found the connection with self-organization helpful in terms
of understanding more clearly what is going on when space is opened, and more
particularly what I should or should not be doing as a facilitator. There are
also some interesting clues as to what might be done after the Open Space
event. For example, if we are encountering self-organizing system every time
space is opened, it is very clear what we should do as facilitators -- as
little as possible -- just get out of the way and let it happen.

        As for later, I think this is where things really get exciting. I have
come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a non-self-organizing
system. There are only an number of people who think (erroneously) that they
organized the systems. This turns out to be a terrible whack to the old ego,
but as we make the turn and come to peace with the fact that we do not make our
systems or our universe, I think wisdom may just be sneaking up on us. Of
course this does not mean that we should just flap out hands helplessly --
cause I think there are lots of things that we could and should do, but most of
them are not what we are doing at the moment.

Anyhow, those interested in such stuff might take a look at my website at an
article called "Emerging Order" which was published in the ODN Practitioner
with the title "Open Space. Or if you are really a glutton for punishment, you
can wait for my next book which carries the working title of "Organization for
a New Millennium: Self-Organization at work" Berrett-Koehler will presumably
bring it out in 2000, provided they are still taking to me after the release of
my latest this Spring with the title "The Spirit of Leadership"

'Organization for the New Millennium" is now finished as far as I am concerned,
and I have essentially used our 14 year experience with Open Space as a natural
laboratory to experience and experiment with what I take to be the new,
emerging organizational life form -- which is also the oldest organizational
life form going -- self-organizing systems. What is new I think is that we are
now becoming aware of the process of self-organization and learning (very
slowly and with no small amount of pain) to live with it.  Open Space for me is
just a crash course in learning to live with what we essentially are --  and
are coming consciously to accept -- self-organization.
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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