SV: The Pros and Cons of OST? (plus use of the word 'technology')

Tue Nov 29 16:42:50 PST 2005

I think of Open Space Technology as created by Harrison Owen as a window
to look into the Open Space of the all that is. I think of Open Space as
created by God. Open Space is not empty space for me, but filled with
minute particles, the sea of all possibilities.

Blessings,
Birgitt

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Peggy
Holman
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 6:07 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: SV: The Pros and Cons of OST? (plus use of the word
'technology')

I think of Open Space "Technology" as the meeting process.  Open Space
is the larger practice of life.  When I think of OS as a daily practice
or as part of a process moving towards consciously living in Open Space,
then I drop technology.  

from snowy Seattle,
Peggy

----- Original Message ----- 
From: HYPERLINK "mailto:mbody at iinet.net.au"Allison & Jim Baensch 
To: HYPERLINK
"mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU 
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 4:19 AM
Subject: Re: [OSLIST] SV: The Pros and Cons of OST? (plus use of the
word 'technology')

Thanks to Claudia and all other respondents and interested parties, 
I have got behind with my responses, as I was afraid I might.
This list has been a wonderful experience so far for me.
Part of the pleasure was in finding others with similar interests to
mine.
Another source of enjoyment came from noticing ideas evolving before my
eyes and in my mind.
This happened in parallel to our email messages 'to-ing and fro-ing'
around the world at all hours.
Many suggestions were helpful.
My approach to the writing is now different from how it was when I
posted my first email to this group.
The paper is due in tomorrow, and is shaping itself - it mainly needs a
conclusion.
If anyone wants to read it, maybe I can put it somewhere for that
purpose once I complete it?

The paper is not written wholly in Open Space, but has the flavour of
OST.
And it is quite lengthy - around 7,000 words, so I reckon it'll be too
long to post on the list.

I appreciate the help of list members in writing it.
Some time ago I wrote the first half of the paper then joined the list.
The paper's second half consists largely of cut and pasted contributions
from list members to do with the topic.

I have one more question that I think will come up at the conference.
What is the thinking in OST circles about the use of the word
'Technology'?
I notice that some people use the term Open Space Technology at times
and others say 'Open Space'.
A discussion on this topic may have taken place on the list before, but
being a recent arrival, I have not been party to it.
I think OST is a technology, and like to use the word, but would
appreciate other opinions to broaden my own.
Cheerio,
Allison.

On 27/11/2005, at 2:25 AM, Claudia Haack wrote:

Hi, Allison!
I've tried to read everything on this thread but am not sure if I got it
all, so please forgive me if I'm being repetitive, or off the mark.  I
think I was in a similar situation, where I submitted a paper for a
session (for a group of public outreach professionals) and then got put
on the "poster session circuit".  I had planned to hold a session and
actually engage people in a mini-OST.  The poster session was terrible.
 People just sort of meander around.  Typically the conversations were
between the "presenter" and one or two other people, not a group.  It's
totally free-flow.  Maybe they do it differently at this conference,
with some "master of ceremonies" encouraging folks to move in groups
from poster to poster, but that would be somewhat awkward, too. 
Anyways, it's a format, that is ok for topics that have great visuals
but for something like this it is pretty deadly.  I've been at other
conferences where the poster sessions were great (examples of maps). 
I think I might try to "buck" the system.  If it is really a poster
session, I'd try to come up with a provocative question for that group.
 What is it (content wise) that this group is gathering around and how
do they typically deal with it?  What would provoke a natural
conversation? What is your objective?  Do you want to make a case for
OST or engage them in thinking about it as a method in their practice,
or do you see a possibility to hold their next meeting in OST format?
Maybe a mini interview printed on a 1/2 sheet that asks questions that
relate to the core of OST and push the envelope a bit. You could engage
whoever shows up by interviewing them, and encourage new folks to
interview each other and take notes. 

Hope this is useful.
Ciao, Claudia
Claudia Haack
KAIROS Alliance Inc.
606 Orchard Dr.
Madison, WI
phone: 608.288.8315
fax: 480.247.4824
www.kairosalliance.com

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