more convergence talk

Pannwitz, Michael M mmpanne at snafu.de
Sun Mar 9 04:11:36 PST 2003


Dear Kerry,
the length of the open space event does not appear to be directly
related to other characteristics such as action plans.
No surprise for a complex adaptive system. Little linear correlation.
Here an example:
Last November, I worked with a group of some 36 facilitators (in the
field of youth and children participation in planning public sector
projects).
The evening before the open space event they gathered to find the
theme (usually this is done many weeks or even months in
advance).Those 36 people chose the theme "Reviving the democracy
campaign" (this was a project that had been successful and fun a few
years earlier).
Next morning, all 36 showed up, had some 16 issues and in the evening
had a planning session (no stickydotting, just another mini os on
what people wanted to move forward and take action on. My question
here is: "Which proposals will get hands and feet and a head and a
heart? ).
There were 9 action proposals with concrete steps.
They paid me my full fee and suggested that there would be a follow
up meeting next year (2003).
Last week they met for the "traditional" follow up-meeting and asked
me to come.
21 came (5 were new, had not been at the event).
7 of the original proposals were present, all had worked and new next
steps were agreed upon.
The other 2 proposals not present sent reports on what had happened
and that things were moving ahead.

So much for a relationship between length and stickydotting and
action planning.

My feeling is that "voting" increases transparency, maybe, but does
not have much impact on commitment.
Perhaps our focus on commitment, responsibility, follow up,
motivation, and most certainly my role in realising implementation
are counterproductive. At least these things are more of the old
medicine.
So what to do?
Give up control?
Some evidence suggests that this might be worth a try.
mmp

ps: I have data on 2,5 day events of 100, 150, 200 people with action
planning, including Delphi (those 55 dots) and bunching and follow up
meetings with apparently much fewer concrete proposals than the event
described above....that, however, would not mean, I suggest, that
there are not lots of things happening that are not apparent to the
onlooker, especially not the facilitator.


On Sat, 8 Mar 2003 12:45:18 +0000, kerry napuk wrote:

>Hi Listers
>
>Fascinating discussion on convergence. It has focused me on the
>awesome challenge to translate creativity into action. In this
>sense, Open Space is a terrific platform to co-create future
>possibilities and generate consensus and energy behind proposed
>actions. Unfortunately, unless a facilitator is invited by the
>sponsor to continue working with participants, it is sometimes
>difficult to find out what actually happened after an event.
>
>I agree with Peggy's view that it would be much better for actions to
>emerge from an event without a vote. Sadly, we have never
>facilitated anything beyond 1.5 days and have not experienced this
>possibility.
>
>In short events, we feel the vote is critical to establish a
>departure point for things the participants felt were important. It
>seems essential for transparency and commitment, hopefully, leading
>to ownership and eventual implementation.
>
>So, we encourage sponsors to ask participants at the end of an event
>to sign-up for more work to implement priorities, trying to keep the
>door open and energy flowing. Accordingly, we are stuck with dot
>voting, although it takes no more than 20 minutes for groups up to
>100 to vote and another 10 minutes to tally and announce results
>before going into a closing ceremony.
>
>In the end, however, an event is the responsibility (ability to
>respond) of the participants and sponsor. The facilitator is very
>limited in realising implementation if there is not enough goodwill,
>commitment and motivation to take things forward,
>
>Cheers
>
>Kerry
>Open Futures
>Edinburgh
>www.openfutures.com
>--
>
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Michael M Pannwitz
boscop
Draisweg 1
12209 Berlin, Germany
FON +49 - 30-772 8000     FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464
www.michaelmpannwitz.de

An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" für deutschsprechende open
space-PraktikerInnen interessiert? Enfach eine mail an mich.





Michael M Pannwitz
boscop
Draisweg 1
12209 Berlin, Germany
FON +49 - 30-772 8000     FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464
www.michaelmpannwitz.de

An der E-Gruppe "openspacedeutsch" für deutschsprechende open space-PraktikerInnen interessiert? Enfach eine mail an mich.


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