Newbie questions...

[Ralph Copleman]

Paul Roberts...

Welcome to the list.  I've done lots of open space activities in a wide
range of organizations, and here are a few thoughts in response to your
questions.  No doubt you'll get a number of replies.

> I'm intrigued by OST, and wondering how it can be practically used in our
> consulting business.
>
> Here are some specifics:
>
> 1. If the management of a business unit has already defined business needs
> and/or opportunities, would it make sense to use OST
>
> a.  to figure out what kinds of knowledge management initiatives will meet
> those needs.
>
> b.  to define what kind of metrics make sense to determine how effective
> the KM intiatives are.

A simple way of answering: can you complete this question in a way that will
make sense to prospective participants...  "What are the issues and
opportunities before us as we seek to____________?"  (Manage our knowledge?
Measure our KM activities?  Both?)
>
> 2.  Let's say an OST event comes up with 10 possible KM opportunities.  Is
> it OK if that becomes a series of inputs into a management decision about
> which ones to follow up on?

Yes.

> Or does that taking of control violate the whole OST paradigm?

Not if the purpose of the meeting was clearly identified as the generation
of possibilities.
>
> 3.  In a large, global organization where even one functional group (like
> R&D) might be thousands dispersed across the world, can OST be done
> effectively in a virtual setting?  Does the magical collaborative energy
> get generated under those kinds of virtual circumstances?

You can have a virtual meeting, and it might achieve its objectives, and
it'll open space on some levels, I suppose, but it won't be the same.  Not
even close.  An alternative is to have a series of local OS gatherings and
link them up.

>  Also, how do you
> replace the 1, 2 or 3 day offsite meeting with a virtual meeting that might
> have to stretch out over some extended time.  I mention this because
> telling management that people need to stop working and start travelling
> and hotelling might present a big barrier to adoption in the real world I
> am seeking to do good work in.

I want to give you a bit of an argument here.  Who says anybody is going to
stop working just because we ask them to gather and think about their
collective future?  That's work as far as I'm concerned.  Since when is work
only the thing I'm doing now?  (And since when has life in a global
corporation ever been the "real world"?)  When managers and such genuinely
care about outcomes, growth, people, and rich, challenging futures, they
don't worry about expense accounts.

Don't sell the process.  Sell the results.  Go open some space.  Remember to
pick up the coffee cups.  Best of luck!

--
Ralph Copleman
609-895-1629
www.earthdreams.net

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