Fusion of Open Space & Charrette

[Joelle Lyons Everett]

Thanks, Zelle, for your story.  I have also been working with an organization
which is preparing to move to a new building.  In this case, the building
design was already finished (with much staff participation in the design process).

About the time ground was broken for the construction, the entire staff was
invited to an all-day Open Space convened to discuss the challenges presented
by this move.  Groups quickly self-organized to plan the allocation of storage
space, work out how to be comfortable with the change to open offices with
cubicals, talk about the changes in work relationships that would come with
bringing together staff from two offices, security concerns about the isolated
rural site, and the generalized grief that always comes with change.

Today, the building is taking shape (and it is beautiful!), task groups that
came together at the OS are continuing to plan the various changes that will
be required, managers are covering people's jobs so that newly-constituted work
groups can design their own new jobs and working relationships.  It has been
wonderful to watch this organization move from griefs and concerns to
ownership and excitement!

Joelle Everett
Shelton, Washington, USA

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