AW: 2108 -- Remember the Number

Fri Jun 13 01:49:53 PDT 2003

Dear Birgitt,

I believe that your actual questions are more valuable to you than
whatever responses you receive from Harrison and Michael (that is not to
say that their responses will not/cannot be valuable).  I reckon your
questions will serve to validate your own innate understanding of OST.
Equally, they serve to confirm or confront others' understandings of
OST, including mine.

Many thanks,

Mick

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Birgitt Williams
Sent: Friday, 13 June 2003 3:21 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: AW: 2108 -- Remember the Number

Dear Harrison and Michael,
Thank you both for taking the time to respond so carefully. Although
large OST events are not unusual, you have certainly done the largest
and I think the only example of such a large one in only one day rather
than a multi day design. This event has given us all a chance to learn
from you and your experience and I think that there is more learning to
be done. 

Your responses generated further questions and comments within me. 

1. I was interested in both of you commenting that announcing the topics
was an integral part of OST for you and that this was not on your list
of "one more thing not to do". I would be very interested in what your
lists of integral ingredients for a well done OST meeting are---not just
the description in the User's Guide but what you actually do in your OST
facilitation. 
2. I was interested that Harrison notes that 1 1/2 hours for the
opening/agenda/marketplace is standard and for Michael that a built in
coffee time before the first session is standard. I had remembered being
taught by Harrison to get this all done as quickly as possible and
preferably in less than an hour so that the energy didn't diminish. It
appears from your reporting that the energy doesn't diminish even with 2
hours before the first session.
3. Your design allowed you three session times. I would be very
interested in hearing more about your decision making of having 3 rather
than more session times and why you chose the length of time for each
session that you did. 
4. As I understand it, the agenda wall was the full use of three walls
that were set up so that every meter there was a number posted, for the
report number---this had the topics posted side by side and always
allowing for a meter. How did you handle the space and time assignments
with what you set up. And where on the wall did those extra topics that
you had not counted on go? Do you have any recommendations for us about
using this kind of organized agenda wall? Could people easily find the
topics for any given time slot to see easily what the choices were to
choose from--or did they have to walk along to read the three walls?
5. Harrison, you note that one of the reasons you chose Michael to work
with you is that he would do a good job of dealing with the logistics
and of working effectively with the client. What work in your opinion
does the facilitator (or in this case designate) take on regarding the
logistics and what is expected in "dealing with the client"? And
Michael, what was the pre-work that you had to do. How many meetings
were involved and what kind of things did you need to cover and to get
involved in? I think there was some brilliant decision making for some
very difficult challenges such as the cushions on the floor, the
balloons from which to hang the signs and so on.
6. What were the client expectations for this one day OST event? What
were you assisting the client to achieve? I note in reading the reports
that the reports themselves are often vague and probably mean something
only to those who participated in that particular discussion (this is
not unusual for OST reports unless the report form has more structure).
Did the client expectations/goals get met not only for the event itself
but expectations of what might emerge following the event?
7. I noted with great curiousity that you both did your own unique style
of the opening rather than one being a translation of the other. I am
fascinated to hear more about this because it taps right into the answer
of the question of "what does it mean to open space?". Based on two
different openings within the same group within the same time, there is
clearly something that is in common that actually opens the space. Any
comments that you have regarding this would be appreciated. I also know,
having experienced each of you "opening space" that you each have VERY
different energies and styles. 
8. I was also interested  by your comments, Harrison, regarding
"Effective Open Space facilitation requires the subtle, conscious, and
sensitive use of both." referring to the facilitator tapping into
his/her male and female energy and the male/female energy in the group.
I wonder if you could please say a little more regarding your assessment
of "Effective Open Space Facilitation" rather than Ineffective Open
Space Facilitation. Is it somehow tied into this male/female energy in
your opinion?

Again, both of you, thank you for this great story to learn from.

Blessings to you and to all with whom you make Genuine Contact,

Birgitt

Birgitt Williams of Dalar International Consultancy
<http://www.dalarinternational.com/> www.dalarinternational.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
Harrison Owen
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 9:16 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: AW: 2108 -- Remember the Number

At 10:09 PM 6/11/2003 -0400, Birgitt wrote:

The group raised a number of questions that we hope we can do some
learning from you about. 
1. The next time, would you have had participants announce their topics
or would you have left the announcing part out? What happened to the
energy when this part took so long (about two hours?)?

The actual "announcements" took about 30 min. We had, in fact allowed 2
hours from the start until the beginning of the first session -- just to
be safe. As it turned out, the group was a little slow in arrival (big
party the night before) so we got started for real a little "late" --
which of course was the right time. And so it turned out that everything
took place in the "standard 1 and 1/2 hours. I would never leave the
announcements out -- for lots of reasons. 1) Hearing the topics is a
natural "edit" -- if somebody says "my topic" I don't have to. 2)
Announcing the topic is and act of commitment -- most important
expression of passion AND responsibility. And yes -- it did seem to go
on. . . it always does, I find. But it was truly awesome.

2. The next time, would you limit the number of topics as you did this
time. Your agenda wall with its very clear organization for topics  was
interesting but it is my understanding that you planned for 160 topics
but many more were generated and there was no planned way to deal with
them. It didn't look like the agenda wall left any room for the
"unplanned". And yet, maybe limiting the topics was necessary.

We did not limit the topics. We had guessed (or more exactly Michael and
I guessed) that 150 would be the max. Prior to the gathering Michael and
I placed informal bets (Beer for all team members bought by the loser)
-- but both were off by a wide margin. So we all drank a lot of beer. As
for more spaces -- just blew up more balloons. Seemed to work perfectly.

3. The next time, would you have used cushions on the floor as you did
to accomodate the number of people. We thought that there was probably a
lot of discomfort esp when we became aware of how long people had to be
in their seats for the agenda building.

Given the space available -- there was no choice but cushions. We did
have chairs around the edges for those who's age or egos prevented
sitting on the floor. Personally i didn't hear any complaints, and for
sure the cushions (along with the balloons and floating signs)
contributed to the total atmosphere. So yes -- chairs would have been
nice. But the cushions were brilliant (Michael's Idea).

5. Could one of you have facilitated this meeting on your own or did it
really require the two of you to "open" and then "hold" the space. What
was your reflection about it being so much male energy in the
facilitation--two men opening the space instead of one male and one
female? Did you feel that sharing the opening of the space was a
positive effect on your own energy or did co-facilitating deflect some
of your energy to your partner?

One person, speaking both English and German could easily have handled
the situation. But doing it together (speaking just for myself) was a
real treat and privilege. The Program said that I would do the opening,
and Michael would translate. At the very beginning, I made it clear that
was not the case. I said, "Michael will do his thing, I will do mine --
and with luck we will arrive at the same place." We did. When it comes
to the male/female energy thing I have to say that it had occurred to me
to invite a woman partner, and there would have been a number of
wonderful candidates. I chose Michael for two reasons. First, I had
absolute confidence in his ability to deal effectively with the
difficult logistics and work effectively with the client. Not that
others couldn't have -- but with Michael, there wasn't even a speck of
worry. The second reason, and probably the major reason, was that
Michael and I had worked together long enough and often enough so that I
knew there would be an easy flow between us. Two people in a single
dance. I called it a "duet" -- changing metaphors. But dance or song --
it did flow. And was there too much male energy? That is a question that
somebody else will have to answer, but my feeling is, no. Male and
female energy is something that all of us, regardless of gender,
possess. Effective Open Space facilitation requires the subtle,
conscious, and sensitive use of both. Some people can do this first
time, no practice, just go. Personally I have found that I can "do" male
energy quite well -- but I have to make a special intent to honor my
feminine. It has been an interesting journey of 67 years, but I think I
am making some progress. Perfect, no -- but progress.

6. What is the real advantage in a large OST meeting such as this one?
What was accomplished that could be cited as  tangible results? Would it
have been better to break the large group into smaller ie:600 person
simultaneous OST meetings? Would that have been better for the
participants. We noted in the pictures that some of the breakout groups
had hundreds of participants and we were imagining that it would not be
very fulfilling---but Erich pointed out that likely these in fact were
like classes continuing on with masters from the "constellation work" so
they were not meant to be really interactive.

There is something truly awesome when you have the  Whole System in the
room. There is a richness and energy that you will not find in any other
situation. At a practical level -- our experience in Wuerzburg
demonstrated to me that given the space, numbers aren't an issue. I have
tried dividing large groups in the same area -- and found that they all
got back together again anyhow. Of course, we have also done
simultaneous, multi-site OS -- but that was due to budget and travel
constraints. And were it possible to do them again, I would have opted
for a single site. The fact that the break out sessions got rather large
does not relate to the total size of the group. I have worked with
groups 1/4 the size (500) and had large (75) sessions. My learning is
that whatever we learned about "Optimal Group Size" isn't worth much --
The real criteria in not numbers, but does it work? I have seen groups
of 2 being totally dysfunctional and groups of 75+ just flying. And of
course there is always the Law of Two Feet. If the group is too big
(multiple issues) use 'em. Of course, there is a learning curve,. and in
a one day OS, some folks are still caught in concrete. But they learn.

7. In what circumstances would you recommend such a large OST meeting
and what could the client expect to achieve?

Criteria for use??? Same as always. Issue of major, common concern, lots
of diversity. mind blowing complexity, presence of conflict... Open
Space. The numbers don't matter. 

Harrison

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, MD 20854 USA
phone 301-365-2093
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
<http://www.openspaceworld.com/>  
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
<http://www.openspaceworld.org/> 
Personal website  <http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm>
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm

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