A Newbie...

[Vliex, Carla (cvl)]

He David

Good to meet you again and welcome!


> Met vriendelijke groet,
>
> drs. Carla J.P. Vliex
> _______________________________________
> Organisatieadviseur
>
> Twynstra Gudde Management Consultants
> Stationsplein 1, 3818 LE Amersfoort
> Postbus 907, 3800 AX Amersfoort
> Telefoon 033 4677760, Fax 033 4677479
> Mobiel 06 53927407
> E-mail cvl at tg.nl, Internet www.tg.nl
>
>
> ----------
> From:         David Smith[SMTP:imaginac at bigpond.net.au]
> Reply To:     OSLIST
> Sent:         Wednesday, 18 December, 2002 10:21
> To:   OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject:      A Newbie...
>
> 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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