OS and convergence / Action Planning all the time

[Harrison Owen]

Raffi raises a most interesting point. Action planning happenes when it
happens. I know we tend to think -- First we do the open space and then get
on to action planning, which usually involves some sort of convergance
process and the like. There is a certain logic to all this, and doubtless it
appeals to clients who may be a little nervous. But I think it may be the
case that our logic blinds us to a rather different reality. I am not quite
sure how to say this -- but something like -- It's all action Planning. From
the moment the circle opens action planning is taking place (or not) -- but
for sure the final hours of an OS are not the only time/space for action
planning.

There are some practical implications to this. Mostly that is about warning
clients that it is not unlikely that major changes/actions will not only be
planned but executed before the conlusion of the gathering. Specifically, I
have seen whole products designed with money alocated, marketing planned,
manufacturing facilities identified -- in the first 3 hours of an OS. I
thought it was great, but the VP for Strategic Planning was not of a similar
mind. After all it was not "in the plan." Equally, I have come to the end of
an OS, all ready to do the convergance etc -- and found the energy just sunk
through the floor or more accurately -- mellowed out. The folks were not
tired, unhappy, or bored, it is just that they had already done it all. And
their pleasure was simply to sit with a good cup of coffee and (now) good
friends. Fortunately I had enough sense to let it happen (extended coffee
hour) since it was going to happen anyhow. I did, however, have to spend
some time with the client explaining why I wasn't following the agenda --
which clearly said "Convergence and Action Planning" on the morning of the
3rd day.

The cause of our confusion, I suspect, is that we have become prisoner to a
linear sense of time -- Past, Present and Future. Certainly it "seems"
things happen along this continuium, and when we write up what happened, we
do it in this linear sequential fashion. But I think things are more
complicated than that. Or maybe a lot simpler -- everything happens all at
once, it is just that when we think about it or explain what happened we
fall back into this linear sequence.  The reality, at least as I experience
it in myself, and watch it unfold with a group is that people go all over
the place. They may start with a future notion -- wander back to the past,
drift through the present -- and do it all over again, but in a different
order. I think it is the case that past, present and future only become
significant in terms of each other. Some moment in the past (among all
possible moments in the past) shows up as important only when it impacts the
present and may effect the future -- and so on through all possible
permutations. I think it even gets worse -- the past is powerful only to the
extent that it is present in the context of our dreams (future). Or
something.

Why mess with all this? Well I think it may be helpful as we seek to
consider what happens in OS. Somehow, what we take to be the "standard
rules" just don't apply. Worse yet -- when we seek to enforce (control)the
rules, things get weird and/or unworkable. Action planning, like everything
else happens when it happens. Whenever it starts is the right time.

Harrison



Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20845
Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Raffi
Aftandelian
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 7:24 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: OS and convergence

Dear mmp and Lisa (and Lena) and everybody else,

Thanks, Michael, for challenging me to think if what I am doing is
controlling. I hear
you call it a desire for control. I think I see things differently from Lena
on this
score. I know what she means by everything but action planning happening
during the
time when action planning is meant to happen. What I have witnessed, though,
or I think
I have witnessed is that the very process that needs to happen happens. I
may have my
idea of when action planning is supposed to take place, but I remember
"Whatever
happens happens." Yes, it is hard to let go. After a follow-up meeting with
an
organization with which I did an OS strategic planning 1.5 days, change
definitely
happened.

Something took place. Something powerful and deep.

And curiously, many of the people I describe OS to here say they already use
OS
principles in life, in work. They grok to it straight off the bat.

Lisa, say hi to Lena again for me!

I delight in being part of this community, just need to accessking my way to
Goa...

let's ring them bells and open some space!
Raffi

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