Open Space client opportunity

BJ Peters bjpeters at amug.org
Wed Jul 19 13:36:33 PDT 2000


romy shovelton wrote:

> Hi all
>
> Thanks for your various reponses to my note about examples of blue chip
> organisations using OS - including the Guinness drinkers who identified
> themselves !
>
> My request was because I may have the opportunity to introduce Open Space,
> to the multinational leadership group of Diageo (the huge consumer goods
> company that was formed from the merger of GrandMet (inc. Pillsbury and
> Burger King) and Guinness, 2 1/2 years ago.
>
> I believe that this has the potential to be a fantastic opportunity to have
> a major organisation really take Open Space to heart.
>
> Having said that, the enquiry is all very new.... and who knows what might
> happen (or not) in practice ie. "whatever happens...."
>
> As I sit here today putting together an outline programme for Diageo (as
> requested), I realise that I am not as strong as  I might be in myself, in
> terms of moving from Open Space events into an on-going Open Space presence
> - or in the longer run an Open Space Organisation.  The client has said
> that they do not want this to be a 'one-off' - more the start of a journey
> - which is perfect.  And they have asked for thoughts on what the follow-on
> or journey might look like.   Right now I am feeling that I could be
> clearer about what that might be like:  in the note I have written so far,
> I have been rather vague about what I've called Part2 of the programme.
>
> Part 1 - "How might we live our leadership promise?" - creating the
> fundamentals of a leadership community (2 day Open Space including action
> planning and the formation of Action Teams (or some other convergence
> activity). I have outlined a potential programme for this event.
> Part 2 - building the on-going journey - making this real in our daily
> lives
> Part 3 - review of our Community - how are we doing ? (in six months time)
>
> This is what I have suggested so far for Part 2............
>
> Part 2 - building the on-going journey - making this real in our daily
> lives:
> We would work with the Design Team to map out this programme in outline
> before the first event.  The detail can be explored after the event, with
> the Design Team and co-ordinators of the various Action Teams.  In brief,
> we would expect this might include:
>
> · A practical and effective intranet presence for the leadership community
> · Co-ordination of the work of the Action Teams - by the teams themselves,
> with central support
> · Potential clarification of ways of working identified during the event
> · The calling of further face-to-face meetings as necessary - for example
> using Open Space Technology to discuss 'hot    button' issues as they
> arise.
>
> I would love your thoughts on:
>
> * what are some great ways to make cyberspace work with Open Space?
> Although I have known about the effectiveness of the cyberspace-Open Space
> mix for years (eg. via TMN and the work of Doug Carmichael and others)... I
> have not yet put such a thing into practice myself.... and therefore feel
> somewhat  vulnerable on this.  I would like to be prepared to be intensely
> practical with the folks at Diageo.  While I can read of the services of
> Caucus and TASC...... it is also a question of how the use of such
> technologies is integrated with the face-to-face opening of space, and how
> to encourage senior folks to engage with such technologies etc. If you have
> any advice to offer on the brilliant use of cyberspace, I'd love to hear
> it.
>
> * what other mechanisms/ processes might you suggest for supporting a
> continuation of the journey after the first Open Space event?  Again I feel
> that I need to be more specific that saying "they can call an Open Space,
> when the issues come up".  As I write this, it sounds a little as though I
> am not quite 'trusting the process' - which feels weird, having been a
> champion for OS for so long?  And...... I would really welcome some
> practical thoughts from colleagues.
>
> so... in anticipation of more OSLIST wisdom....
>
> thanks from
>
> Romy

Romy-- I appreciate (this time it's) your willingness to be vulnerable and
share your concern about moving to the next step with this potential client.

While I have not yet had the opportunity you have to go to this next phase,
what occurs to me is that Phase 2 would be another open space event that gives
them the opportunity to design what needs to be in place for them to go about
"building the on-going journey - making this real in [their] daily lives."
What you could discuss with the client ahead of time are topics they might
expect to arise, remembering that "whatever happens is..." If they are truly
wanting to become an open space organization and live it in their daily lives,
what better way to determine how to do that than in an open space.

Hope this helps.
BJ

*
*
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