Help for My Manager-law of the jungle

[Mike Copeland]

This is a great case study Harrison.

I feel prompted to share some musings.

Open space has helped me re define the old adage about the law of the jungle
which is widely interpreted to mean "only the fittest survive." Taking your
young manager he has this opportunity to take his "fitness" to another
level. There is a recognised business path to do it and this is the law of
the jungle operating in today's business world.

Open space is people being guided by their passions (posting topics) and
natural attractions (market place), the most natural act of all living
things. This to me is the law of the jungle! This is how we get eco-systems
(action plans) and species occupying niches (champions) within these.
Indeed, for me open space is creating an oraganisational eco-system that is
merely mimicking nature.

The phenomenon of people going into freedom shock with open space, (I've
seen plenty of it in my organisation) suggests that our societal systems,
especially our work cultures, are actually the opposite of the law of the
jungle and hence open space. This is what I'm finding in so much of my work,
especially in sustainable systems. The most sustainable ones really only
mimic nature.

My suggestion to your young manger friend is:
He is tired of the old path and indeed has to compromise his integrity to
make open space look like the old path; get out and make your own path!

"The insecure way is the secure way and the secure way is the insecure way"

Joseph Campbell

Mike Copeland

P.S. I will watch this space with great interest as I am leaving my job at
present and embarking on a journey of my own, which I'm not too sure what it
is except I had to get out of my present job. I'm not too sure this bloke
even exists, but I know how he feels and this whole message is very timely
if only for myself!


-----Original Message-----
From: Harrison Owen [mailto:hhowen at comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, 20 February 2005 11:14 a.m.
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Help for My Manager


When last heard from, the young manager was in some major state of
dis-repair, not to mention confusion. He feels much better now, thanks to
everybody's suggestions, and wishes to report that his progress towards
enlightenment is small but steady. However, he still has a job to do - and
despite some reservations, actually enjoys his job. But he surely could use
some help in terms of practical strategy and tactics.  Specifically, he has
just been given an assignment to develop a new piece of software for a
client. If he can do it - it will be right at the cutting edge, and he just
loves the challenge. But - how to get there from here?

He knows all about playing by the old rules which require a project plan,
budget, staffing levels, milestones, evaluation and testing procedure, and
all the rest. But, what about all this "self-organizing" stuff? How do you
play by the new rules? What are they? And last but not least - how do you
rationalize what you have done under the new rules so that it looks like the
"old rules" have been observed? This last part may seem sneaky and
dishonest, but my young manager friend really likes his job. But he did
confide in me that he is thinking about going out on his own. However, his
mortgage, wife and kids make him a little nervous.

So he sure could use your help!

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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