SV: The Pros and Cons of OST?

Tue Nov 22 01:34:57 PST 2005

Hello Allison and everybody on the list!

You really put yourself into a challenge! And it is very interesting because
everyone of us (my guess) meet these requirements for conferences and
reservations about OST. It tells us something important about the
possibilities in OST!

If I found myself in that position (I hope not, but...) I would put up some
assumptions/beliefs - some leading to the traditional conference (as the
one, you are attending) and some leading to OST. I would find the beliefs
from thinking about this actual conference: why do we do stuff like this?
(and here the difficulty could be to be appreciative, but that's important!)

I have tried a little here...

- Groups rotating... - the assumption: it is more important to hear a
something about everything (and then you can always search more information
afterwards)
OST-assumption: You learn the most from being in dialogue about what you are
really passionated about

You have only 90 minutes: - the assumption is: The speaker transfer her
knowledge to the participants by giving a paper and a speach
OST-assumption: We all (also participants) have lot of knowledge, what we
need is to sort it out - meaning relating to our one knowledge, deciding our
attitude.

Organizers assumption: Participants have tried OST before and already know
about it
OST-assumption: The participant's who already tried OST would love to do it
once more and the more they know about it, the more they know that they now
have the possibility of learning even more.

Organizers: Some people don't want to speak in public
OST: You don't need to - and if you are passionated about something it's
easier to talk about it

You can put up the different asssumptions at to different slides -
presenting one way of seing the world - and another way.. - and then it is
up to the participants to decide their attitude...

Have a nice conferece!

Lise
Clouded and cold Copenhagen..
  -----Oprindelig meddelelse-----
  Fra: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]Pa vegne af Allison &
Jim Baensch
  Sendt: 22. november 2005 02:06
  Til: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
  Emne: The Pros and Cons of OST?

  Hello list members,
  My name is Allison and I have been around Open Space since experiencing it
in 1996 at the Uni of Western Sydney.
  I've mainly used OST for spacious conference 'papers' and I was at the
OSonOSinOz in Marysville.
  Hi to everyone on the list, especially those I've connected with before.

  This is my first week as part of the OSLIST, I've been too scared to join
in case of being overwhelmed by information.
  I'm trying to study and 'trust the process' of learning, but sometimes get
rattled by deadlines and trying to meet them.
  Now I'm sorry I didn't join the group earlier - I'm enjoying the
conversations.
  I also feel a bit rude asking the following questions when I am so new to
the list.

  By the end of November (oh gosh!) I need to write a conference paper
entitled "The Pros and Cons of Open Space Technology".
  I assume the papers are being published prior to the event.
  My offer of a 90 minute interactive OST session was rejected, and another
suggestion was made to me, which I accepted as a challenge.
  (The organiser's response to my proposal is copied, with his permission,
after my signature below.)
  What I originally wanted to do, as I have done before, is to offer an
invitation to delegates to attend a 90 minute OST session.
  I then co-create a paper with participants on the day for possible
publication.
  The topic is usually one about which the conference community feels
passionate and/or divided.
  But I find, in this case, that a paper is expected to be written before
the conference.
  Though it seems there may also be web space for conference 'discoveries'
to be posted after the event.

  In preparing this paper, I am having difficulty writing the "Cons" part.
  I have ideas about when Open Space is inappropriate (eg when no is space
available).
  But I'm not aware of its limitations (if any exist) when circumstances for
its use are favourable.

  Also, I would like the participants in 'my' presentation to be as involved
as possible, but find the 10 minute rotation a challenge.
  I haven't experienced these rotating sessions at a conference before.
  I thought I'd speak to each group for 2 or 3 minutes about OST then hand
out 'proceedings' pages.
  Then I might ask people to chat and give me written feedback for the last
5 minutes or so before they move on.
  Maybe there'll be a wall for news at the conference where I can post these
forms as they are returned?
  I won't cope with recording or remembering all the conversations myself
and prefer to let my role melt away after each intro.

  (Someone might also like to analyse why I get myself into such challenging
situations.
  I'd pay a generous fee for an effective therapeutic intervention.
  Agreeing to this revised topic seemed like a good idea at the time. How
quaint.)

  If anyone has any suggestions, especially about OST limitations, I'd
appreciate reading them.
  Thanks for the group member's inspiring and heartfelt messages so far, I'm
delighted to hear of the spread and diversity of the work.
  In my attempt at brevity, I hope I have given enough details to explain my
situation.
  Regards,
  Allison Baensch.
  (Presently in cumulus-cloudy Clifton Springs, Victoria, Australia - on
Corio Bay and near one end of the Great Ocean Road. Warm sun, cool breeze.)

  The conference organiser's response to my original proposal:
  1. Most (or many) [... Network] members would have experienced the use of
Open
  Space (tehnology) at least once. Some would be quite skilled in its proper
  use.

  2. Some (even many) probably have serious reservations about its value in
  many situations (especially among people not used to speaking in public).

  3. I have never seen at an [... Network] event, any paper that reviews the
pros and
  cons of Open Space, and perhaps talks about the ways that its limitations
  can be overcome.

  Personally I think that a short oral/interactive session on the main
  principles of Open space, and its pros and cons - could be very useful and
  could fit nicely into the Interactive sessions - where you would have 10
  mintes to present the same clear message to a number of small groups that
  rotate past your station.

  I have read your abstravt and see that it would need to be changed to fit
  the different purpose and structure outlined above. Let us know what you
  think about the idea of a short session - in which you could sell the
  ideas of Open Technology (you can expects some serious oponents among the
  audiences - could be very lively).

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