OS and AI

[Jeff Aitken]

At 9:06 AM -0400 4/27/01, Harrison Owen wrote: "I also have to say that in
my experience groups operating in Open Space naturally  manifest precisely
the same behaviors as these approaches seek to achieve -- all without
apparent intention or direct intervention from a facilitator."

Thanks Harrison.

In my experience as participant in many OST events, I sometimes find the
conversations frustrating and disappointing, and I long for a process such
as "Dialogue" to help focus our attention in ways that might deepen the
level of the conversation. I either suggest (or model) the process halfway
thru, or use my two feet -- maybe the group does better after I depart ;-)

I experience this most often in events like OT, which I describe as
networking conferences, to be distinct from ongoing coherent organizations.
I generally now assume that the first day of an OT is for speechmaking, and
by the third day we are having real conversations. Perhaps this is evidence
of the ability of Open Space to manifest those behaviors without
intervention!

I find this problem much less often in OST events within coherent
organizations. Then again, I'm usually the facilitator, and not involved in
the small groups -- who knows what's going on there?

Jeff

-
Jeff Aitken
Inverness Ridge, CA USA
415.669.1924
JA at svn.net

"Material and energy throughput must be diminished, but NOT people, NOT
living standards, NOT the dream of a better world."  -- Donella Meadows
(1941-2001)

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