OST as an "halfway technology"
averbuch
averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
Wed May 19 04:06:35 PDT 2004
It seemes to me that in what you write hear OST is more "a gateway" then
a a halfway"
T
Tova Averbuch טובה אורבוך
34 Rabinovitz St. רחוב רבינוביץ 34
Holon 58672 חולון
Israel
972-3-5523476
averbuch at post.tau.ac.il
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Harrison Owen
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 7:54 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: OST as an "halfway technology"
I knew I was going to get in trouble when I wrote this one. But there
was
some sort of purpose. For fairly obvious reason, I would be the last
person
to deny the power and utility of OS -- and I really cannot quibble with
its
completeness. Surely it has a beginning, middle and end. What pushed me,
however, was some concern about our objectives. Why do an OS? Obviously
there are multiple answers, all valid in their own domain. Such things
as a)
Having a better meeting. b) Energizing an organization. c) Building a
strategic plan. d) Designing a new product. e)etc, etc. All useful and
good,
I am sure. But why do we REALLY do it? My answer to this one would be --
to
enable folks to see themselves as they really are, and fully appreciate
their wholeness. When, if, or as that happens -- there is no need for
Open
Space, and it becomes quite clear that OST was just a step along the
way. In
a word -- a halfway technology.
It was in this context that I found my self wondering whether there were
some things that we did (or did not do) that stood in the way of what
(for
me) was the ultimate objective.
ho
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 Judi
Richardson
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 12:12 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: OST as an "halfway technology"
Hello Harrison and all,
I have not read all the replies to Harrison's posting as I received the
initial posting and printed it off to take with me as I travelled to
Open
Space for an international conference on Globalization.
I am responding to your posting now that 140 participants have generated
40
topics and moved to their groups. A teacher arrived last minute with 30
high school students -- and, as always, they add amazing things to the
group. I shall catch up on the replies to your posting upon my return.
I was curious at the Halfway Technology statement and
I see OST as a complete process. We, as human beings, are here to
evolve.
For a point in time, people agree to gather, to suspend disbelief around
some principles and one law. In your posting, Harrison, you eluded that
we
do this just to be what we already are. I consider the objective mirror
of
OST -- time out of time -- as a chance to see ourselves as we are -- and
once we do that we have to change. I would love it if people see some
of
the habitual patterns they develop -- and drop those to become more of
what
we are -- fearlessly.
Who am I to have the audacity to expect the group to go further? It is
their process. It is up to their passion and responsbility to go
further.
You state, Harrison, that it would seem that OST is not to be
considered.
Why beat the drum of what we don't want? I find more and more who want
to
explore the OST process -- in training and in practice. I facilitated
OST
for 38 B. Ed. students once and they started doing their presentations
with
OST -- no training -- worked myself right out of a job there!
My wanting more for an organization would be "closing space" -- what
right
do I have to project my disappointment on their process? I see my work
to
build a relationship to the process, to the space, the form, in building
the
container as the content belongs to the group.
OST - for however long is a snapshot in time in the evolution process --
time out of time, out of habitual patterns, embracing creative tension.
I
sat up last night with participants from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Australia,
LeSotho, Canada and the US who wanted to ask questions and play with
participatory processes.
When I finish here I'm off to Toronto to facilitate a change process for
an
institution including a one and one-half day OST. The next week I am
opening space for Aboriginal Fisheries Works in the Department of
Fisheries
and Oceans. And in the moment we close the space -- it is a full
technology -- complete, perfect in its imperfection!
And for now I see a few coffee cups to pick up! <grin>
with deep appreciation for the reflection and looking forward to reading
others responses!
Judi
__________________________________________________________
Judith Richardson, MA
Coaching & Consulting
Optimizing Performance, Potential and Profitability
www.ponoconsultants.com
www.emergentfeminine.com
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