"It always works" - revisited again

[Artur Ferreira da Silva]

Hello all:

1. We have commented a lot of times that "It always works". And we have
even discussed repeatedly "why" it works. But I would like to suggest
(again) a broader perspective. Starting with the most obvious questions:
What is the "It" that always works? And what does "works" mean?

2. Trying to remember our previous discussions, I would rephrase "It always
works" as "OST always works as a meeting methodology". With this I mean
that in all (or almost all) the cases that OST has been used to conduct a
meeting we have high levels of energy, passion and responsibility, a lot of
interesting issues being discussed and at the end of the meeting people are
normally happy - as can be seen in the closing circle.

3. But OST was born in close relation with the practice of "Organizational
Transformation" and hence the criteria for success must be, IMHO, not only
the success of the meeting (which is a "necessary" conditions of success,
but not a "sufficient" condition) but also the perceived success of the
long lasting transformations in the organization or community where OST has
been applied.

4. So, for me, the results of follow on meetings are more important than
the perceived results of the meeting itself, the fact that OST is used
again and again is another necessary criteria of success and the fact that
the organization becomes an OSO, with continuous high levels of learning is
the utmost criteria of success of OST as an OT method.

5. Some years ago I was very impressed by some posts, namely from Birgitt,
about the use of OST to create an OSO and by the comments from Harrison in
Chapter 13 ("What Next?") of the User's Guide (1997 edition) about the need
for "Research in OST" and especially for the use of "OST as a toll for
organizational interventions". [That is, by the way, IMO, the difference
between being mainly an "OST facilitator" (of events) or being and OT
consultant, that uses OST as his prefered way for OT]. Some years after
that, what are our progresses in this line? Or do you believe that this
line of thinking was wrong - or is useless - in the first place?

6. I continue to think that OST is the best way I know to promote OT, and
namely to transform ordinary organizations in open organizations, learning
organizations, or what you prefer to call them.
I must confess, from my limited experience, that this sometimes works, but
more times don't - and I don't know why...

7. Is anyone out there that is also concerned with this and wants to
begin/continue a collective research on this subject?

Regards

Artur

*
*
==========================================================
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