Who is the Client?

[Harrison Owen]

At 12:32 AM 4/30/01 -0400, you wrote:
>Harrison--
>
>What do I think? I wonder (not at all facetiously) about the next question:
>How then do you sell OST? Put another way, What gets the check writer
>beyond our "What you want does not count, only what your people want"?
>
>                               :-Doug. Germann
>                               http://www.FootprintsintheWind.com
>                               Doug at FootprintsintheWind.com

I hear the point -- and two thoughts come to mind. First, if the check
payer doesn't want what the group wants, and more importantly does not
understand that the wisdom of the Group will inevitably exceed his or her
own -- then there is little space to be opened -- and Open Space will
definitely be a painful experience for all concerned, and should probably
not be entered. This is not always a "bad" thing, as there are clearly
times when Open Space should not be used. Those times include instances
where "the answer" is already known. For example, I would never suggest
Open Space be used for the initiation of a new financial system. Just pass
out the manuals and get on with the business. By the same token, Open Space
is a wonderful way to create a new system with all stakeholders
participating. But in that case, the stakeholders must be honored or you
are in a real mess.

The second thought is that I would make every effort to insure that the
Bill-Payer understands  the Promises of Open Space, and further that those
promises will be kept / baring an act of God. The promises are:

1) Every issue of importance to any one in the group will be on the table.
2) All issues will receive full discussion.
3) There will be a full written report in the hands of all participants.
4) Related issues will be converged.
5) Priority issues identified.
6) Responsibility will be assumed for taking the immediate next steps.

Those are guaranteed! I will tell folks that enabling the group to become
inspired, innovative, creative, responsible, charged up, turned on etc...
is a no-brainer. Living with such folks afterwards can be a little
difficult. Choose.

Harrison


Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-469-9269
fax 301-983-9314
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.mindspring.com/~owenhh

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