OS in Siberia

[Elena A. Marchuk]

Hi all OSers!

I'm Elena Marchuk, from Novosibirsk, West Siberia - the geographical center
of Russia.

I want to thank you all whom I write personally and who helped me with their
advises and inspiration...

that is Harrison Owen - first, then Peggy Holman - the book of whom I'm in
love - I mean The Change Handbook,
Michael Pannwitz with his equipping me with 1 and 2 hours design of OSs and
his report on Moscow training.

And all who participate in the discussion on OSlist about  2 hours OS which
I just followed silently...

THANK YOU!

I had 3 hours.

So I feeled a little bit relaxed with timing but very worried what those
Russians will do with the method and small timing - from 2 to 5 pm.

The topic was "Civic Initiatives" in the afternoon of the Conference "Local
governments and NGOs - from interconnection to partnership" . two sessions
were very traditional - one with 13 speakers (in a hot day), another like
round table - also with honoured speakers

and ours - with OS...

it was 40 people

first we moved to a more fresh aired room from 2:00 pm to 2:15( from 2-nd to
5-th flor, those who was very tired - by the lift)
 and then installing in a circle

then 15 miniutes of instructions.

and you should see this frustraited faces - what we have to do with this?

then one after another we had about 15 topics..

then signing and organizing 6 groups.

2:45.
I desided that there will be one session of 45 minutes as we had to prepare
the general presentation for the plenary session (from 5 to 6 pm), and
that's why we have to listen what groups would working on and decide to
present.

So I told  them that they have 45 minutes for discussing their topics and
for preparing the report on a flipchart,

3:30. two groups from 6 were ready and all others asked for 5 minutes
more...

3:45 we started presentations - they were nice and everybody listened as the
topics was intersting for all.

one group presented two reports on different topics - one evaluation of the
work of NGOs and the other - Working through Internet

one woman after working in a group, as nobody signed on her proposed topic,
wrote quicly on a flipchart the presentation on her topic and made a
report - why not - ecological education...

we ended in 4:20 with presentations (a little bit less then 5 min each
together with the applouds) and discussed 15 min the results we shoul
present on a plenary and then

15 min of closing session where people surprised that it worked somehow and
it was great experience where NGOs representetives and local government
officers worked together as normal people...and very democratic and
wonderful...

Marina, my friend, said that I always had a smile on my face and smoothed
all hard parts by saying - that is your chance to say everything you want
and find partners right here in the room...

So it  looks like we all won!

we shall print all the results tomorrow and will put them in the newsletter

Thanks a lot to everybody and for OS and for Harrison who invented this
method. he said that I have just to try.
I did
Best wishes to all!

elena marchuk, Ph.D.
director of the Regional Development Center "Ceres"



-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Doersam,
Laurel
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2000 12:03 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: I need advice . . .


Thanks, Michelle.  The time factor is a huge caution for me, too.  I wonder
if they care enough to devote the time they need to resolving the issue?  I
think I'll need to take a firm stand on this.  What is your opinion of
spreading the space over several subsequent sessions?  (When I voiced my
concerns about the time issue, they were prepared to devote a couple of
followup weekly sessions of two hours - but again the same issue of opening
space "a little" - just as people start to become engaged in the process,
it's time to go scrub!)  The other complicating thing is that the physicians
have the largest interest in getting home on time because they don't get
paid any extra for being there late - the others get compensated, so there
are certainly power issues involved.

Do you think this could be spread over a few weeks, or should I hold out for
a full day?

Laurel.
-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle Cooper [mailto:coopgrp at INTERLYNX.NET]
Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 11:34 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: I need advice . . .


HI Laurel;
I would suggest not using open space for two hours for this particular
scenario. OST is just the right process for the problem, but anything less
than 4 hours would have the potential to backfire and a day would be minimal
in my opinion for this issue. It sounds typical of the desire for instant
fixes to huge problems that is rampant in health care. My other concern is
that they will be so caught up with being ready for the OR to start, they
may not be fully present. I would suggest that if they are truly committed
to resolving the problem, they will dedicate more time to it and they will
find a way to make the time happen. Sometimes that requires investing in
time on a weekend or (god forbid) closing down the OR for a half day.  This
is often done when anaesthetists go for their annual conference!! My
thinking is that a 2 hour event in any form is not going to help them
resolve the issues. They are likely looking at many 2 hour sessions which
would have the same effect on productivity as closing the OR for a day and
not nearly as effective as just one day in open space.

One of my nursing colleagues participated in a 2 hour "demonstration" event
recently at a conference where there was not particular passionate issues.
She said that people got into the discussion so deeply, that they were angry
when they were forced to stop. Not in the spirit of OS and could
particularly backfire if volatile issues got raised that could not be
discussed until "it is over".

Two hours might get you an opportunity to do some story telling to start
people getting a handle on the issue and then follow with a longer open
space.

My humble opinion;
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
The paradox of control is simple. The more we try to control life, the
less control we have.  Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., Minding The Body, Mending The
Mind