small issues - other methods
Artur F. Silva
artsilva at mail.eunet.pt
Tue Feb 20 14:52:01 PST 2001
At 14:53 20-02-2001 -0700, Chris Weaver wrote:
> I am right
>now putting together a package for businesses that uses a one-day OST for
>the employees to address the theme, "Serving our community in more
>innovative ways." A part of the vision for this initiative for me has been
>that it is perhaps a "small issue" -- since it is outside normal business
>operations, I am hoping that it is less threatening to business leaders and
>more likely to invite them to lay down some of their "weapons." So maybe we
>are talking about "peripheral" issues, where managers can let go of more
>control because the theme is not embedded in the central
>control/accountability structures of the organization?
>
>Is there an issue about which organizational leaders and members have
>passion, that is peripheral to central operations? Maybe this issue is a
>good doorway for OST.
This is VERY INTERESTING!
Talking about Portugal it would be very difficult to sell OS to companies
or Public Administration to solve crucial problems. Even to NGOs - that
I though at first that would be easy - it is not :-(( But I think that if one
can find a "small issue" or "peripheral issue", as Chris referred, it can
be easier and maybe we can after move to more fundamental issues.
Now that Chris gave a word to it, I understood that my "Interactive
Methods for IS" go in the same direction - introduce OS in a peripheral
way (for instance an IS/IT project) and hope that it spreads...
Now, writing this, I made a sort of connection with a different subject
and I would like to have other opinions about.
I think that managers (as some consultants?) are sometimes afraid
of OST because they think they will be unable to "control" the situation.
I have become conscious that other "large group facilitation methods"
(that I think miss the point of self-organisation at the edge of chaos),
are more accepted both by management and by OD/OT people.
Would you agree that maybe it is because they are "more structured"
that people feel less afraid of them? After all when we open the space
we are not changing the concerns of people - only the "way" to address
them - from highly structured to low structured...
Reading about other "large group methods" the first thing that comes to
my mind is that with some of those methods
- managers will feel less afraid and
- consultants will seam to do a complex/expert thing that seams (to
clients? to themselves?) to justify the fee they ask for...
When clients pay a consultant they are paying an "expert" that will
do "some work" for them. "Doing nothing with elegance" - is that
payable by a client as consultancy?
Admitting that it is not (or at least that it is difficult) how can we regain
the "expert role" that is so valued in our society? Combining OS with
other tools, methods or "specialised knowledge"? Concentrating
in training instead of consultancy? (a trainer is always an "expert"
by definition - if he "does nothing with elegance" he can always claim
(or be understood by others) as a specialist in "non directive training
methods"...)
Does this make any sense to others?
Regards
Artur
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>From Tue Feb 20 18:47:51 2001
Message-Id: <TUE.20.FEB.2001.184751.0700.>
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 18:47:51 -0700
Reply-To: bjpeters at amug.org
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: BJ Peters <bjpeters at amug.org>
Subject: Re: small issues - other methods
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Hello Artur--
"Artur F. Silva" wrote:
> I think that managers (as some consultants?) are sometimes afraid
> of OST because they think they will be unable to "control" the situation.
I would definitely agree that many managers and consultants are out of their
comfort zone when they feel out of control and therefore might not want to use
OS. Most other large group methods are more structured, therefore seem more like
other meetings, therefore feel safe...
> Admitting that it is not (or at least that it is difficult) how can we regain
> the "expert role" that is so valued in our society? Combining OS with
> other tools, methods or "specialised knowledge"? Concentrating
> in training instead of consultancy? (a trainer is always an "expert"
> by definition - if he "does nothing with elegance" he can always claim
> (or be understood by others) as a specialist in "non directive training
> methods"...)
I believe the most basic and profound premise of Open Space Technology is that
the wisdom (expertise) to create whatever the group wants is IN THE ROOM. To do
anything to indicate that I, as facilitator, am somehow "more" expert than
anyone in the room is totally compromising that basic premise and would create
cognitive dissonance - real disparity between what I said and what I did.
Therefore, I can't conceive that any OST facilitator would want to "regain the
'expert role'". If I want to support people's belief - in their own wisdom and
power and passion and responsibility - and to hold the space for their creative
energy to flow and manifest, I CANNOT think, act or BE the expert; I can only be
authentically present and hold the space open.
When I need to be perceived as expert, I know my ego nature has the upper hand.
When my ego nature is in that upper place, my spirit nature cannot be present to
hold space open.
Well... I guess I feel strongly about this. Thanks for listening with your eyes.
BJ Peters
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>From Tue Feb 20 22:18:44 2001
Message-Id: <TUE.20.FEB.2001.221844.0800.>
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 22:18:44 -0800
Reply-To: lisaheft at pacbell.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Lisa Heft <lisaheft at pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: story: learning circles OST (long)
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It is so interesting, Chris, to read your story.
In a situation with so many things to have to recommend
before 'liftoff', I would have told the client that I felt
Open Space was not the method they needed. That they had a
perfectly good method already and to help them design and to
facilitate the experience based on that.
I am smiling right now because I am toying with partial
images in my head. Does that mean I am unable to give
myself fully to OS? I don't think so. I still think OS is
not the answer (my answer, anyway) to every, even every
would-work-beautifully-with-OS situation. Hmm. Control?
Or just knowing myself? Or just having a blend of
approaches at my fingertips?
No answer to that one. Doesn't really matter. 8o)
What matters is what I feel might work best for what I hear
the client is saying and for what I hear my intuition is
saying. Which is exactly what you did. Which is why you
learn and teach us so very much.
I would n-e-v-e-r have inserted myself in the discussion
process (!). And this comes from someone who -- socially
-- inserts herself into EVerybody's business, when allowed
8o) (!!)
It is just my training that being the opener / leader /
facilitator carries with it such strong power dynamics that
to get involved in such things changes them and includes me
when it should be about them. But then, I have worked so
much in *learning* facilitation that I do weave myself in
and out to take advantage of "teachable moments". So there
are times...and there are times.
But guess what?! Next week Jeff Aitken and I begin our
adventure of holding our first OST workshop for ... training
is not the right word... more like sharing and learning ...
and Jeff has shared with me that on occasion he has even
posted agenda items in an Open Space he is facilitating. I
cannot *wait* to learn from him!
I love the ways we share big surprises and approaches that
turn our heads around (in a good way).
So often as a facilitator one never gets the chance to see
one's peers at work -- I mean those of use who work alone --
so learning is slower than ideal. Here, with you amazing
leapers into the intuitive unknown, we get to ride on your
shoulders to taste a little of the new to us without
hesitation and with your eloquent and thoughtful writing as
our virtual eyes and ears.
As some USA kids are known to say,
You RoCk my world!
Lisa Heft
Berkeley, California, USA
www.openspaceworld.com for more info on the workshops
- - -
Chris Weaver wrote:
>
> Thanks for the feedback.
>
> My conclusion about the hybrid preamble issue:
> Harrison asked, what would have happened in the absence of
> prescribing group behaviors?
> What to do, since the preamble was very
> important to the sponsor?
>
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>From Tue Feb 20 22:29:36 2001
Message-Id: <TUE.20.FEB.2001.222936.0800.>
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 22:29:36 -0800
Reply-To: lisaheft at pacbell.net
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Lisa Heft <lisaheft at pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: small issues
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Dear Chris --
I would be v-e-r-y interested in following your travels
here. And to anyone who is thinking about ways to package
and present the use of Open Space. Please do keep us
informed on how this idea of yours develops.
Let me see. I might think of what a "small issue" is
similarly to how I might think of a community building
discussion or activity. What is the thing that all
participants would have in common, even if experienced
differently through their professional, personal and
cultural filters?
What do they always get together and chat about at
professional social gatherings? Disappearing sources of
funding? How to retain people? What are the aspects of a
true leader? How to merge productively with companies or
agencies previously seen as competitors? How to form
collaborations in a competitive marketplace?
There is something (or several 'threads') which everyone
talks about over the dinner table when a few friends from
similar businesses get together. Nobody has to share trade
secrets to have very animated and community building
conversations, even if it is just to complain together
:-(( (in Arturtalk symbols).
All is safe, all works. Rich conversation ensues. Of
course, you still have the problem of how to *market* it so
that people will think it is worth their while to attend in
this instant-this-instant-that world.
What are some of your thoughts on this marketing part?
Lisa
Berkeley, California, USA
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