OS in Asia convergence 2

[Mick Walsh]

Hello all,

Just a few comments regarding convergence:

I think we have to remember that we may have a contract (psychological or
otherwise) with the sponsor to converge.  If an OS facilitator feels that it
is not quite right to converge then I think it only fair to agree so with
the sponsor.  otherwise the sponsor may not have his/her needs met.

Secondly, participants in facilitated sessions usually need to know that
something concrete will come out of a session they attend.  People resent
wasted time, me included.  My experience with OS is that when people are
first exposed to it early on day one they express (subsequently) a certain
anxiety about the perceived lack of structure and form.  They often express
feelings of not knowing where they are going and suspect that nothing will
come of the experience.  How wonderful, then, when they discover the real
benefits of OS and become supporters of the process. This is surely the
first step for organisations to be truly open.

I can see that there may be times when we become aware that convergence may
not be appropriate, and then whatever happens is the right thing. However, I
think we have to defer to our stakeholders - the sponsor and participants
and what is important for them.

Regards,

Mick Walsh
Southbank Management Consultancy P/L, Australia
Tel:    +613 9431 4344
FX:    +613 9431 1016
E-m    southbank_mgt at bigpond.com

---- Original Message -----
From: "Denis Cowan" <cowandp at GIL.COM.AU>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, 31 May 2000 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: OS in Asia convergence 2


> G'day.
>
> Over the years I have run a lot of future search type activities
>
> often the focus has been to develop a series of vision statements etc.
>
> as we have got to the end of the time I have often asked people to look at
> the voting result and ask if it reflects What they would want personally.
> What they would like to see added
>
> On a very rare occasion it has sparked another line of thought and led
> people down a more useful path to a different result.
>
> Re open space.  This has sparked a thought for me here about facilitation
> style.  I wonder if this segment on convergence is a reflection of our
> facilitation style and not of the group need.
>
>   If we as facilitators like closure (we may be operating out of our J in
> Myers briggs terms) then convergence may have a strong closure element
>
> If we as facilitators do not like closure (we may be operating out of our
P
> in Myers briggs terms) then convergence may be about opening up the
nextspace.
>
> Having a predisposition for the second rather than the first, I think I
> only go for closure if the group belts me around a bit until I hear what
> they want. ( remember - I am not good in the conscious world)
>
>   Another spark.  - If I remember Kelly's construct theory  and the memory
> is vague - Our view of the future is a manifestation of what we know now.
> Therefore as we see and learn more our manifestation of the future may .
So
> are the issues brought into an open space a reflection of the past
(Jimbo's
> point ?). At the end of the event they may no longer be relevant.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> denis
>
>
>
>   At 10:44 29/05/00 -0700, you wrote:
> >Jim,
> >
> >Great story!  I would second what several others have said about the
focus
> >of the "end of the day" work.  For me, voting is a reductionist approach
> >that throws people back into a mode of win-lose.  I see the end of the
day
> >work as a time for synthesis, where the passions that have surfaced can
come
> >together in new ways that perhaps didn't exist before.  It is a reason
that
> >I DON'T work with the posted topics at this stage.  During the OS itself,
> >the topics evolve.  How often have you noticed that when people come
> >together, the posted topic is the starting place but the discussion moves
> >into different territory entirely?  To me, you run the risk of staying
> >locked in the old way of thinking when you use the original topic names.
> >Instead, this closing time is a chance for new ways of seeing to emerge.
> >The results are consistently more inclusive. I think this happens because
> >what is most personal seems to also be most universal.  This is a
powerful
> >discovery as people check into what they care most about and hear others
> >express similar sentiments.
>
> denis cowan , brisbane , australia.  fax ** 61 7 32681869 tel ** 61 7
38363056
> email:  cowandp at gil.com.au