Four Principles, One Law -- Comments from Artur

[Harrison Owen]

As usual, Artur's fine mind cuts to the chase. In a word, he doesn't mess
around. 

He says: Maybe it is also "half way" in another sense. Sorry to
repeat this but the iniciator himself also created too
many principles. The good thing is that he also said
that "less is more" and that we must find "some other
thing not to do". I have conducted quite a few OST
meetings without refering the 4 principles AT ALL! It
always worked. So, I am convinced that with the other
"foundations" (including the law) it works ok and the
principles are not needed at all.


It is no surprise that OST works without mention of the 4 Principles and One
Law - at least not to me. In the history of the beast, OS happened first,
and the principles and the law emerged over time. Their emergence, however,
was less a matter of my creation than the reflections of the community of
practice. In a word, the principles and the law are not prescriptive but
descriptive. This is not about telling people what to do, rather it is a
matter of noting what seems to be happening anyhow. 

Of course, it might be asked - why state the obvious? If it is all going to
happen anyhow, why bother to announce it? Very good point. The reason, I
think, is two fold. First, Stating the Principles and The Law seems to be
useful in terms of helping the participants adjust more quickly to a
situation which might otherwise seem very counter-intuitive, and therefore
uncomfortable. Secondly, and probably more importantly, the recitation of
Principles and Law at the start, combined with their posting on the walls
during the event is, in effect, an invitation to reflection. 

As the event proceeds, they (principles and law) provide sort of a check
list of things to be noticed along the way. And, as a matter of fact, at the
conclusion of a gathering I will often refer back to the principles and law,
asking (for example) did anybody notice that the right people always seemed
to show up? On a good day, as everything is coming to a close, it is not
uncommon for some body, or some several bodies, to remark - that it seems
that the principles and the law could be useful in everyday life. My
response is a YES! At that point, I feel confirmed and justified in "wasting
time" at the beginning with the formal recitation. I must confess that my
hope for any group I work with is not only that they will have a
"successful" meeting - but more importantly - begin to realize the
application of their experience to their everyday life. 

This realization of application, as I see it, is the pathway from "event" to
more effective organization (by whatever name Interactive, learning, high
performing). I would agree with Artur that OST is not the method to create
organizations of that sort - because I don't really think they need to be
created. They are already there, albeit buried by layers of inappropriate
structure, arbitrary controls, non-functional bureaucracies and the like. At
this point, my major heresy or madness comes into play. I truly believe that
all organizations are self-organizing, a fact clouded over by the fact that
a number of well intended, but deluded people think they essentially created
and maintained those organizations - and further that they are actually in
charge. The major impact of OST is to enable us to see through the clouds!

If there is any truth to all this, then a number of people are at risk in
terms of their present employment, including many managers, executives, and
professors of business. I have no desire that such folks should join the
ranks of the redundant/unemployed, but I do wish that they might work their
trade in a more useful and productive way. First of all they could stop
doing what is probably going to happen anyhow (and better) - organizing, and
start to lend their considerable talents to the task of enabling an already
existing (self)organization to function at optimal levels. This would mean
understanding the process and developing the appropriate methods and tools
needed for the effective care and feeding of self organizing systems. Along
the road I believe they would find OST to be helpful not so much as an
effective meeting methodology (which it is), but more profoundly as a
learning laboratory. I guess I have probably said it ad nausea - but the
real kick for me in the OST experience is to have participated in a
marvelous natural experiment.

And last but not least, Artur, I do know of at least one Open (InterActive,
learning) organization. It is us. This odd virtual organization now in
business almost 20 years. And it is true that we do not have to recite the
Principles and Law on a daily basis if only because I think we experience
them face to face and virtually. I actually think we could learn a lot from
looking at ourselves. Ain't perfect for sure, but OSLIST/OS Community has
not done badly. Nobody organized it, nobody is in charge, and life goes on.
. . .

Whoever comes is the right people
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
Whenever it starts is the right time.
When it is over, it is over - but it ain't over yet

And won't be, I think, as long as we remember the Law of Two Feet which
amongst other things provides lots of space for our passion and
responsibility


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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