A Newbie...

[David Smith]

Hello, Open Spacers,
This email is to introduce myself to the list. 

My name is David and I have been a research physiologist, TV producer/presenter, author and museum exhibition developer. I gained interest in Open Space through a period of intense frustration with 'conventional' management systems, especially within - but clearly not restricted to - government. 

In November this year I video'd the OSonOSinOZ, at Marysville in Australia, partly to discover more about what Open Space "is". I learned a lot. You may have the chance to see my 4-minute distillation from 10 fascinating hours of tape...

My first email to Birgitt Bolton/Williams is copied below to illustrate something of where I came from.
I found the Open Space in Australia uplifting and deeply moving. I can explain more about that if anyone is interested. I look forward to dialogues with open-minded, flexible, creative and positive minds.
Best
David

Dear Birgitt, 
I heard you speaking on the radio when you were in Melbourne last year and was impressed to the point of amazement. 
You asked - "Why is it that companies spend so much time and energy selecting and appointing the best suited and most creative people and then prevent them from being creative?" 

As a film maker and writer with a very strong drive to be creative, I find myself shackled in my current position as a Program Director at Melbourne Museum.

Consider this: Last year was International Year of Elderly Persons. I had established a great relationsjhip with staff at the National Ageing Research Institute here in Melbourne. Together with our Outreach Services group I set up a Public Forum on the theme "Use it or lose it!". My line manager chided me for doing this, saying " But  it's not in the Business Plan, can't you organise it for the following year?" This, quite frankly enraged me, though I really felt very much alone with that reaction. 

Then consider this: I have on my desk an A3 form which sets out in extraordinary detail the process required in order to produce a publication. This chart has to be seen to be believed. It is in 10 point type, has five columns of steps and there, right in the middle, is a single line "AUTHOR WRITES BOOK". When this was tabled at one of our interminable meetings I was the only one who laughed. 

Then I heard your interview and I felt immensely relieved that there were other people - perhaps many other people around the world who smelled the same big fat rat in the way corporations seemed to be stifling people while espousing all sorts of lofty ideals in their mission statements etc.

So I contacted Brian Bainbridge and began exploring your Open Space ideas. I purchased The Rise & Fall of Strategic Planning which forms a wonderful companion read to The Unconscious Civilisation. Then I learned that my friends at Hamilton in western Victoria had worked very successfully with Open Space.

I mentioned my concerns and Open Space to one of our senior managers here at the museum and he said he would be very interested in hearing more about Open Space. (He's a rather unusual manager in this place in that he retains a high level of flexibility - thinks right OUTSIDE the box). As I mentioned to Brian, I would love to have Open Space presented to our management, but I'm concerned that it be done really well from the outset - that's why I asked whether you would be in Australia in 2000. 

Can you advise me how to proceed? I'd be happy to provide far more information about the organisation and the sort of issues that concern me, but really wanted to touch base first and get your initial reaction.

I look forward to hearing from you! 
Best regards, 
David
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