OS and themes

[Gerard Muller]

Dear Jon,

Thank you for your interestiing post.

I've had a few experiences similar to the one you describe.

If there are issues which the sponsor finds very important, there are
several ways to put more focus on them,
such as in the invitation and any other communication participants get
in advance, and in the sponsor's
Opening Statement. but there is no guarantee. Another option is to
think who in particular would have expertise about
or an intense intterest in the topics you worry might get lost, and
invite those additional people into the meeting.

So sometimes a preparation team that feels very strongly about this has
sort of started to divide topics between them.............
"If you post this, I will post that"-sort of thing. In my book, there's
not much Open Space left then, and I suggest we use another method
which allows them mre control over content. Then whatever is more
important emerges.

In your case if I understand things correctly, your team already has
enough experience with Open Space not to be worried about the process
itself
(will participants post topics, ....., .....)

However if I feel there will be sufficient space, I suggest that:
- they will not be the first to post these topics (after all, be
prepared to be surprised that others do), but rather the last;
- no-one is obliged to post a topic (after all, participants might post
topics they sense are actuallly more important or interesting)

I find that sometimes it is as interesting what issues are not posted,
as what issues are.

And following the principle "Whatever happens is the only thing that
could have"
I then ask myself - and the sponsor "If there would be an excellent
reason why
they are missing, what would it be ?"

Looking forward to hear what will emerge,

Greetings from The Near East,




Gerard Muller



On Mar 17, 2005, at 9:01 AM, Jon Harvey wrote:

> Hi all
>
> I am currently working with a large public sector organisation who
> wants to
> make some more headway with their strategy around gender equality
> (this is a
> heavily male dominated service). Last summer we held 4 one day OS for
> upwards of 250 women in each to give them the space to debate /
> exchange
> ideas around what more needed to be done to celebrate the contribution
> they
> bring to the organisation and what else was required to advance the
> gender
> equality strategy.
>
> We have now embarked upon running a men only day with upwards of 250
> men -
> partly as a counterbalance to the 4 events last year and partly
> because we
> wish to explore just what more men - as men - can be doing to advance
> gender
> equality and get more out of the strategy for themselves. (As an aside
> - it
> is interesting to note that many of the issues that emerged from the
> women
> talking - childcare, bullying, long hours culture etc - are the very
> same
> issues that men in the organisation also articulate).
>
> (For your information - there is a mixed day planned for later in May)
>
> And yes there is much we can talk about just what role do men have in
> tackling sexism, abuse & bullying, discriminatory employment polices
> etc.(which disproportionately affects women more - though which can
> affect
> some men too) since it is the men who are usually and traditionally in
> the
> oppressor / perpertrator position - but that is not the issue I wish to
> focus upon. (Although please feel free to comment!)
>
> This matter I wish to bring to the OS community is about what people
> think
> of the idea of having some preset themes - to be run as optional
> workshops -
> happening alongside the OS workshops. I am well aware of the purist
> reponse
> that says there is no need for this - with a careful set up at the
> beginning - all that needs to be raised - will indeed be raised by the
> group
> of men (in this case) as they create the agenda. And I go along with
> that as
> a matter of OS 'doctrine'.
>
> However - there are a couple (and I am only talking of a maximum of 3
> and
> perhaps only one of these parallel optional workshops) of issues that
> we
> (the steering group behind the day) fear may not come up (they did not
> in
> the previous four days in a comparative way) and we want to ensure
> that at
> least the opportuntiy is present for the matters to be discussed. One
> of
> these is the analysis of what women - as women, and secondly, what men
> - as
> men bring to the organisation. The latter especially is of great
> interest to
> the forthcoming day since men (white, straight, middle class etc) don't
> identify themselves as 'other' very often and as a consequence don't
> examine
> their special contribution - as men. I can expand on this point if you
> need
> me too - altho the main question I have is about the appropriateness of
> having preset workshops running in parallel.
>
> I look forward to your responses. Many thanks!
>
> Jon Harvey
> Oxford, UK
>
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