SV: Inviting the Competition ?

[Thomas Herrmann]

Thanks for sharing your very interesting story, Gerard.
I find many managers hesitating about this opportunity.
About a month ago I facilitated an OST where 6 public organizations got
together to work out new areas of cooperation. Although not that kind of
competitors, one of the areas they want to cooperate in is staff
development/training and also possibilities to have a broader spectra for
professional careers through having the opportunity to work in other public
workplaces.
Greetings
Thomas Herrmann

> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]För Gerard Muller
> Skickat: den 11 mars 2003 23:48
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Ämne: Inviting the Competition ?
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> I had an interesting Open Space last week that I would like to share
> with you.
> It really started almost a year ago, when an association of small
> companies (a cooperative) asked me to facilitate a seminar to discuss
> their strategy for the next five years.
>
> They made the previous one three years ago, and were ready
> implementing
> it ahead of time.
> Participants would be all Board members and all employees, some 20 in
> all.
>
> I discussed their situation and wishes with the director, and
> he agreed
> to an OS.
> So I had a preparation meeting with him and 4 Board members
> to prepare.
> Good people, and a very constructive team
>
> After having made a draft of the invitation, I asked them who
> else would
> have important knowledge relevant to their meeting. And we made an
> analysis of the network around the central theme.
>
> They agreed to invite all the key persons - except of course the
> competition: two main competitors in Denmark, and one in Sweden. But
> somehow I felt it would be more beneficial than dangerous,
> and we ended
> with a model where all “guests” were invited during the day, and the
> original 20 would continue.
> That way - was the reasoning - they would get the input but limit the
> :risk”.
>
> All three competitors sent their directors as well as the chairman of
> their Boards.
>
> During the Open Space it was not visible to me these people were
> competitors.
> And one of the main conclusions of the first day was
> something like “The
> main issue is not how to grow a little in Denmark, but how to
> enter the
> German market with our superior product - none of us alone would have
> the resources to go in succesfully, but together we could”.
>
> The Open Space last week was for one of the competitors. And they
> invited their competitors - who all came.
>
> Any other stories about inviting the competition (or working for the
> competition) ?
>
> Greetings from
>
>
>
>
> Gerard
> Open Space Institute Denmark
>
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