A Newbie...

BrendanMcKeague mckeague at iprimus.com.au
Wed Dec 18 06:05:52 PST 2002


G'day  David

its great to hear that you've managed to capture 4 days in 4 minutes -
that's a bit of a miracle and no less than I would expect from one so
talented as yourself....while I prefer the longer version and savouring of
all the memories, people and the place of the space, I'm really looking
forward to seeing your compilation - and although hoping that it might
include some flavour of our magical multicultural singing jamboree on the
Sunday evening, I don't suppose you managed to film any of it - saying as
you were our guitarist and music-maker as well....any more miracles up your
sleeve?

Welcome to the List
Brendan in Perth


At 08:21 PM 18-12-02 +1100, you wrote:
>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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