Open Space in a conference

[Doris Gottlieb]

Hi Eiwor,
Thanks for your answer. I guess in answer to the first question, one of my
thoughts is about the difficulty sometimes of the mixture of Open and
"other" Space within a conference. I know I have read many people describing
the difficulties of combinations in other posts and it is a question on my
mind. What happens when a conference is structured in such a way that 6 out
of 7 parts are being held in very structured traditional forms and 1 part is
being held in Open Space. What effect will that have? Is that appropriate? I
don't have the answers to the questions, and there is a part of me that
says, "just do it." But there is also the part of me that says it's a worth
it to wonder about these impacts, question the needs and bring that with me
to the planning so that I can let it go when we decide to make a go of it.

About the second question, I also thought that something like asking people
to be present for the first hour would be a good idea. I'm pretty sure that
if there are enough people that stay with the process throughout the 2 days
that they can "help the others" out,  but it is two days and I think the
spirit of the event has to be in some way preserved. I'm wondering if that
can be done in this sort of combination?

Thanks again,
Doris

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]Namens Eiwor Backelund
Verzonden: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 8:43 PM
Aan: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Onderwerp: Re: Open Space in a conference

Hallo Doris,
my first thought is Why shouldn´t you?

And my second Why do they have to stay all the time? We have the law of
two feet that says you do what you need with your time. Maybe in the
invitation you can explain that the first hour is essential and that if
they want to fully participate they ougth to be there during that hour.
I have had some sessions lately where people have arrived during the
opening and if I don´t bother then noone else seems to do it either.
Sometimes there have been some struggling before they get a chair to sit
on and the circle opens to let them in but then I have just stopped for a
while and then started again by repeating my last words. It seems to work.
The others take care of those arriving late and I always repeat how to put
up topics as my last words before I give the space to the participants.

I wouldn´t be surprised if your session gathered most of the visitors
there.

Good Luck

Eiwor

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

>From  Tue Mar 26 14:22:56 2002
Message-Id: <TUE.26.MAR.2002.142256.0000.>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 14:22:56 -0000
Reply-To: martin.leith at theinnovationagency.com
To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
From: Martin Leith <martin.leith at theinnovationagency.com>
Subject: Re: Open Space in a conference
In-Reply-To: <AGECJLPHIMGHFOFDNJGLGEIJCFAA.dlgottlieb at chello.nl>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Doris,

I've led Open Space sessions within conventional conferences on a number of
occasions and it has always been just fine. One was a big national
conference for HR people in the health service in the UK - a very
traditional affair apart from three self-contained mini Open Space meetings
(each was 60 or 90 minutes - can't remember exactly). The only shortcoming
that I can remember was participants' mild frustration with the lack of
time.

What's the worst thing that could happen? Follow your instincts and go for
it!

Success,

Martin

Martin Leith
Director
The Innovation Agency Limited
Helping organisations become hotbeds of innovation

PLEASE NOTE NEW CONTACT DETAILS:
The Innovation Agency Limited
17 Bedford Street
Brighton BN2 1AN
United Kingdom
Phone 01273 (+44 1273) 675322
Mobile 07808 (+44 7808) 773713
email martin.leith at theinnovationagency.com
www.theinnovationagency.com
www.martinleith.com

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html