Craig--Questions

Harrison Owen hhowen at comcast.net
Wed Jun 29 04:20:18 PDT 2005


There is little question that The Question is more than questionable. In fact if it is questionable it ain't The Question. Or something. The importance of The Question derives from the fact that Open Space is a question. Or maybe better - The Question represents the first opening of space. In order to do its job it must be relevant (to the group), sufficiently specific so that they know what is at issue, sufficiently open so that there is plenty of room for exploration (space), provocative so that business as usual is set on its head, and attractive or nobody will come. Crafting such a question is a wonderful opportunity to work with the group involved. It is the old question of why do you really want to do this (OS) anyhow, and what would be different if you did? But oddly, I have never had much difficulty coming up with the question -- I think because I really don't worry about the words. My focus is on the group -- the pain, the pleasure, the hopes, the fears.  The Question just seems to pop up in the conversation, usually when you aren't expecting it to do so. 

As for examples  of good questions -- I am sure everybody has their favorite.  Mine happens to be, "Fixing Arizona -- Issues and Opportunities?" And if you don't have a clue what that might be about, I think that is just the point. The Question is so context specific that unless you know the context, or better yet, are part of that context -- The Question doesn't grab you. And of course, you would not be attracted to that OS -- which is also the point. 

For more on Questions you might take another look at The User's Guide for some specifics. Also my article at http://www.openspaceworld.com/Opening%20Space%20for%20The%20Question.htm

You might also enjoy a book by a friend of mine, Marilee Goldberg (now Adams, I think) called something like "The Art of the Question." I believe Barrett-Koehler published it. 

Harrison


Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD  20854
USA
301-365-2093
207-763-3261 (summer)
website www.openspaceworld.com


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Craig Gilliam 
  To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 6:14 PM
  Subject: Craig--Questions


  As I work with OS, it seems that the question (call it calling question or 
  theme) around which the OS emerges is critical.  The appropriate question 
  carefully worded seems to hold the potential to take a group to those 
  unexplored regions.

  Is there any collection or list of questions people have used/developed 
  through OS?  I think it would be a helpful and fascinating list.

  Is there any good literature on what makes for a provocative question that 
  allows groups to move to a deeper levels of emotional and spiritual process?

  Thanks!,
  Craig

  *
  *
  ==========================================================
  OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  ------------------------------
  To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
  view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
  http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

  To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
  http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20050629/35bf24e4/attachment-0016.htm>


More information about the OSList mailing list