SV: sharing my first OS experience

[Thomas Herrmann]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Mayke!
Sounds like you did a great job. I am sure there were some seeds planted
regarding who?s the expert, although the existent patterns still seemed
predominantly visable.
Regards
Thomas Herrmann

> -----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
> Fran: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]For Mayke Wagner,
> essence
> Skickat: den 1 juli 2004 10:48
> Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Amne: sharing my first OS experience
>
>
> Hello to all of you,
> about a month ago, I facilitated my first Open Space in Nairobi, Kenya. I
> worked with 40 engineers, medical doctors, technicians and administrators
> from the field of technical health for 1,5 days and it went
> really well. The
> feedback from the participants was very positive. We had 6 sessions and
> ended up with 32 topics. The first day of the conference was "traditional"
> with one expert in front and everyone else listening. So the people really
> experienced a change when the Open Space started and you could tell they
> were struggling with those 2 concepts. My impression was that in the field
> of developmental aid - certainly in the area I was working in - the people
> felt comfortable with the idea of an expert from the North (Europe) having
> the answer (and consequently the responsibility - ability to respond) for
> the problems in East Africa. Open Space questioned this assumption and
> invited them to acknowledge their own expertise and ability to find their
> own answers for their problems. After the first 4 sessions we had the
> evening news and in the discussion it became clear that the participants
> were torn between the "traditional" way and the Open Space way. I
> addressed
> this struggle on a meta-level with the participants the next day which was
> helpful to create some more discussion and insight...
> >From a systemic point of view it was quite startling to see how this
> "imperialism" of the European expert having the answers for the
> problems of
> East Africa was supported by the behavior of the European participants as
> well as of the African participants. Both sides contribute their share to
> keep this pattern stable which in the long run does not support
> sustainable
> independence... From that perspective the experience was rather
> sobering for
> me...
> Anyway, I am convinced that the Open Space conference was thought
> provoking
> not only on the level of healthcare technology...
>
> Happy trails,
>
> Mayke
> ___________________________________________
> essence - Beratung, Training, Coaching
> Mayke Wagner
> Hanser 3
> 88279 Amtzell
> GERMANY
>
> mayke.wagner at t-e-a-m.org
> Tel (+49) 07520 / 9232 02
> visit us:  <http://www.t-e-a-m.org>
>
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