OS in Arabia

[Michelle Cooper]

I have used 45 minute sessions in a 4 hour time slot with success, although I would not set any less time.   The themes of the meetings were quite specific  e.g.  what are the issues and opportunities for scheduling a 4 day work week.  If 45 minutes is not enough time, the principle "when it is over, it is over" comes into play.  Those people who needed more time and had the passion to continue the discussion did so.  Those that wished to gravitate to other sessions did so too.  It was just a matter of the group moving....but I think that the group that was meant to use the space occupied by the group extending the time actually convened in a different space.  

I think it follows what Birgitt said earlier...if the key principles are followed in opening, holding and closing safe space, the group will take care of itself.  I have not always had the gift of the ideal time to use open space, but spirit does emerge and participants have expressed the same wonder and excitement as the longer versions.  Would the discussions be richer and deeper in longer sessions? Possibly (although, I find my own attention span for a topic starts to wane at about the 45 minute mark).  I agree with Harrison, if the group knows it has a shorter time to deal with an issue, they somehow rise to the occasion.  

Looking forward to seeing  many of you in Chicago and having many rich discussions.
Michelle 

Michelle Cooper, RN, MScN
The Cooper Group Consultants
200 Crestview  Avenue
Ancaster, Ontario
Canada L9G1E2  
Telephone -     (905) 648- 4633
Fax -           (905) 648-1763
E-mail          coopgrp at interlynx.net

>From  Fri Sep 24 12:18:51 1999
Message-Id: <FRI.24.SEP.1999.121851.0500.>
Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 12:18:51 -0500
Reply-To: mherman at globalchicago.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Michael Herman <mherman at globalchicago.net>
Organization: Michael Herman Associates
Subject: osonos news to be posted online
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

hello to everyone who will NOT be in chicago for OSONOS this year,

we're going to make an effort to post osonos news online this year, during the event.

you can go to http://www.openspaceworld.org and click
the "marketplace" link, then scroll down to find the osonos
forum...

or click this direct link to the osonos forum:

http://www.openspaceworld.org/wwbbcgi/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Open+Space+on+Open+Space+1999&number

the first installment should be available sometime sunday afternoon, chicago
time.  you won't be able to talk back with us, but you will be able to have
follow-on discussions online amongst yourselves, if anyone chooses to do this.
 if some discussion does spring up in this osonos forum, osonos attendees can
join in when we get home.

see you online from osonos, m


--

Michael Herman
...inviting results in evolving organizations

Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Avenue #1105
Chicago IL 60610
312-280-7838 voice
312-280-7837 fax
mherman at globalchicago.net

The Global Chicago Network
http://www.globalchicago.net

Michael Herman Associates
http://www.globalchicago.net/mha