The story of Open Space in Unicef Yugoslavia,

[BrendanMcKeague]

Thanks for this great story Carla - I really like the fluid approach to
planning and to the 'whatever happens...'

it reminds me that the process begins with the very first discussion
between yourself and the sponsor - or even before, as the sponsor's first
thoughts emerge....

Some questions
I presume it was residential
how many participated in the event?
when you divided into groups for Discovery, did you mix up those from
longest to shortest periods of service?
The ending sounds very 'Irish' - where its never over until after the
singing and drinking...have you had any feedback from the sponsor about how
she was feeling afterwards...

thanks Carla

Brendan
from a hot Australia

At 12:04 PM 11-02-03 +0100, you wrote:
>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
> >
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> > Stationsplein 1, 3818 LE Amersfoort
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> >
>
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