The story of Open Space in Unicef Yugoslavia,

Tue Feb 11 05:46:36 PST 2003

Hi Tova

The ideas were indeed coming from *appreciative inquiry* . I use this very
often, and more with smaller groups.
Glad you enjoyed it.

love and sunshine
Carla

> 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:         Averbuch[SMTP:averbuch at POST.TAU.AC.IL]
> Reply To:     OSLIST
> Sent:         Tuesday, 11 February, 2003 13:07
> To:   OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject:      Re: The story of Open Space in Unicef Yugoslavia,
>
> Dearest Carla,
>
>         What a beautiful story!
> A delightful and creative way of combining AI (appreciative inquiry) and
> OS,
> thank you for writing it so vividly.
>          I had used these two together once but in a very simple way on my
> second
> OS ever: only Discovery as a bridge between OS and convergence on day two.
>         Your story ignites my imagination,  and being some 40 OST events
> older, I
> am tempted to try again/
> thank you so very much
> with much appreciation
> Tova Averbuch
>
> Tova Averbuch
> 34 Rabinovitz st
> Holon 58672
> Israel
> Tel:972-3-5523476
> Mobile:972-58-305343
> averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> ----------------------
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of Vliex,
> Carla (cvl)
> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 1:04 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: The story of Open Space in Unicef Yugoslavia,
>
>
> I had the honor of facilitating the annual retreat of Unicef in Fr
> Yugoslavia.
> Here is my story:
>
> The sponsor had a program for three days with lots and lots of stuff. She
> wanted the Open Space for the topic "Unicef's future role in Yugoslavia.
> And
> she wanted it just for the afternoon on day 2!!! They wanted to work with
> the Belbin team roles on day 1, do some presentations about the result
> from
> last year on the morning on day 2 and on day three they wanted to make the
> programs, project and all the objectives for the next year.
>
> It took quit a few emails and telephone calls for changing the program. As
> a
> result of all the discussion they really wanted to do the Open space on
> Day
> 1 (future role) and do the works what needed to be done (and it was a lot)
> on day 2, the start of Belbin on day 2 and the action planning on in Open
> Space on day three in the morning and more Belbin to close the annual
> retreat. I must admit that I was very very worried about this program. But
> ... we all where.... !!!!
> There was also a tension in the group between the international staff and
> some of the local staff members.
>
> So I had some night sleep about it and we decided on : (all after lots of
> beautiful and rich discussion with the sponsors (3 people of Unicef and
> me,
> it felt like a as if we where constant in Open space the four of us in
> planning the whole).
>
> On day 1 we started with Discovery. We asked them to stand in a row, the
> one
> with the longest period of service in front and the one with the shortest
> period of service in the back of the row. Than we made a row with the one
> with the longest period of service in front, the one with the shortest in
> the back. We divided them according to their period of service in groups
> of
> five persons and asked for their most lovely, funny, best, greatest story.
> After some time we had a plenary and we asked each group to share one
> story.
> It was fun and great.
>
> We went on with Dream; the future role of Unicef in Yugoslavia in Open
> Space. As some of the people read about Open Space, the where very serious
> and very quick in posting items. The chaos on the bulletin board was
> enormous, the biggest chaos I ever saw on a bulletin board. It was very
> hard
> for me not to interfere as people asked me over and over again to do some
> clustering. I invited them to do their one clustering and after a while
> things had their one way, as in Open Space things go. There where two
> sessions before lunch time. During lunchtime some people where still
> confused about the chaos, no pre-determined objectives and so on.
> After lunch I told the story about how Open Space developed (just
> mentioned
> the joy of coffee breaks and the spirit of being in a circle). Just two
> minutes, but it was good.
>
> During the afternoon, when I came back from a stroll, everybody was
> gone!!!!
> I went to the bulletin board and the schedules changed. Some people went
> out
> for skiing, some where playing cards in the pub next doors, some where in
> the swimming pool etc. The really liked the butterfly role. Though I was
> kind of upset, I had to let it go. As I came back; everybody was working
> and
> they worked very hard until nearly eight o clock that evening!!!
>
>
> And...nobody wanted to follow the program for the next day, the wanted to
> stay in Open Space.... We had a discussion about this, but the sponsor
> said
> that the work needed to be done in two groups with everybody present. So
> we
> called next day Design. I told them that Open Space is not just a
> methodology but also a way of being, acting or living if you want. And
> they
> did it. They worked all day very hard, without butterflies and bumblebees.
> So the spirit of Open Space was still there. It was amazing.
> There where some complaint during the day that people felt
> ignored/isolated.
> We figured out that this was mostly during the social events (lunch.
> diner,
> drinks after, skiing at night etc.) So we made a bulletin board of the
> social events.  With just a few rules; sing up means show up and
> bumblebees
> and butterflies are welcome.
>
> Next day we called: Doing/desiring. They started with reading all the
> reports (the report of day 2 included) I re-opened Space (thank Michael
> Pannewitz for this notions about re-opening some time ago on the list) and
> they where very quick again. I had only two time slots for ¾ hour for the
> action planning. Some beautiful things emerged (e.g. making offices more
> child friendly and: how to work on democratizing leadership within Unicef
> and within Yugoslavia)
>
> The closing circle was odd, a couple of people where very emotional and
> quite a few (local men) where very uncomfortable. As I said it was over,
> nobody moved!!! It was just not over and I didn't know what to do. ...
> The sponsor helped by announcing that lunch would be served in ten
> minutes...
>
> In the afternoon we worked on Belbin for one hour and then... really self
> organized, there where local musicians and local wine/spirits and then..
> just.. after singing and drinking it was over.......
>
> with Love and Sunshine
> Carla Vliex
>
>
>
> > 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
> >
>
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