AW: Open Space experience with African countries

Sat Mar 20 14:12:56 PST 2004

Mayke – One way to handle the problem with “senior people” is to make sure
that you have had a conversation with them BEFORE the OS starts. In most
cases if you explain how it is all going to work and how essential it is for
everybody to have a chance to speak, I find there is usually no problem.
Also, as you may remember, Open Space was “born” in Africa. I spent some
long time in West Africa working with a variety of people, mostly the Kpelle
in Liberia. My inspiration for the circle in Open Space came from my time
with them. And I think there is a real point here – for most people in
Africa (certainly tribal people) Open Space will seem very natural. In fact
they have names for it. In Liberia it was called Palaver, and I think in
Southern Africa it is called Indaba – but Valerie can tell you about that
(also say hi to her). In Liberia when there was some major issue to be dealt
with, everybody would sit in a circle, sometimes the whole village – and
EVERYBODY talked, and usually one at a time. The people would say, “Never
let the Sun set on a Palaver” – which meant we don’t stop talking until it
is over. When it was over, the chief elder would say the final word, usually
some parable or saying that captured what the consensus was. Up to that
point it was not uncommon for that elder to sit in silence for hours. Just
holding the space. I don’t know where you are, or what groups you are
working with, but I would be willing to bet that they already know a lot
more about Open Space than you think. If so, all you have to do is to open
the space and let them, get on with what they would do naturally. I have
also had a very similar experience here in the US when doing OS with First
Nation People. At first they thought it was some strange new white magic. I
guess the name threw them – or the fact that I am white made them sure that
whatever I might do was going to be strange. But it usually only took about
20 min and they forgot all the strangeness and felt right at home. I
remember one Navajo Chief coming up to me after the 1st day saying “What
took you so long, White Man?” He said it with a smile. This strange, new,
wonderful thing called Open Space had actually been in native tradition from
the beginning. We (white people) were only just catching on.

Have fun!

Harrison 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20845

Phone 301-365-2093

Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com <http://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 Mayke
Wagner, essence
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 3:23 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: AW: Open Space experience with African countries

Hi Holger, 
thanks for getting me in touch with Valerie and also for sharing your
experience with OST with African participants. 
The first aspect you mentioned ("To my experience so far, you should not
fall into the African ³trap² that everything needs to be discussed at
length. So, after you have introduced the rules, do not accept any
discussions but open the market place immediately.") makes perfectly sense
to me. 
For the second aspect ("You might also run into slight problems if there are
some senior people who want their status to be honored.") I am wondering how
you deal with that. In terms of space invasion I can imagine possible ways
to deal with this. Do you have any other recommendations for this specific
situation? What did you do? And what did other people do who found
themselves in this specific situation?

Thanks for your support and your willingness to share. I am very impressed
by the openness and the readiness to invite newcomers to the OST community!
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>

Von: Change Management Toolbook <holger at change-management-toolbook.com>
Antworten an: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Datum: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 10:06:09 +0100
An: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Betreff: [OSLIST] AW: Open Space experience with African countries

Hello Mayke, 

I will have a short training session on Open Space in South Africa next
week. I will give you feed back once I am back. 

To my knowledge one of the leading OST specialists in Africa is Valerie
Morris from Cape Town. I am copying your message to her and you might
contact her if you wish. 

To my experience so far, you should not fall into the African ³trap² that
everything needs to be discussed at length. So, after you have introduced
the rules, do not accept any discussions but open the market place
immediately. You might also run into slight problems if there are some
senior people who want their status to be honoured. 

Michael P Pannwitz, can we send her Theo¹s dissertation? 

Regards, 

Holger 

Dr. Holger Nauheimer 

BeraterKompetenz 

Rosenheimer Str. 5 

10781 Berlin 

Tel. +49-30-219 684 49 

http://www.beraterkompetenz.de/ 

http://www.change-management-toolbook.com/ 

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]Im Auftrag von Mayke
Wagner, essence
Gesendet: Dienstag, 16. März 2004 08:19
An: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Betreff: Open Space experience with African countries 

Hello from springtime Germany,

I have my first Open Space Conference coming up in April and Lisa encouraged
me to make use of the expertise and experience of all of you! 
The Open Space will take place in Nairobi, Kenya and we will have
participants from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Sounth
Africa. The topic will be "Towards Sustainability of Healthcare Technology
Systems" with participants being stakeholders, decision makers, and
maintenance staff from all levels (national, regional, district, facility)
of the healthcare technology system.
My question is whether - from your experience - there are certain cultural
aspects I need to consider. Do you have any experience with /
recommendations for this group of participants?

Looking forward to your ideas and stories,

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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