OST for Office Conflict. Yes or No?

[Michael M Pannwitz]

Dear eg,
seems a wonderfult ost-gathering opportunity.
Especially, if some of the preconditions for open space were looked at 
once before the event:
-high complexity, that appears to be in place
-diversity, that seems to need expansion
-urgency and open question, that appears ok, hidden agendas are always there
-conflict, plenty, so that seems fine
Diversity, from where I stand, also has to do with getting "the whole 
system" into the room. In the "planning sessions" which I pretty much 
insist on having with a client I ask "Who all needs to be invited to the 
meeting so that what we hope for as an outcome under the heading we have 
chosen actually can be worked on productively"...that often expands 
diversity and gets more of the system together.
Lets hear how it went
Greetings from Berlin
mmp

Elwin and Joan wrote:
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> A few days back, while I was on assignment in Ethiopia, a consulting
> firm I have long association with emailed to say they needed me to
> cover a 2 day management training and team building job with a US Gov’t
> office in DC.
> 
> Fair enough I thought. The consulting firm knows me well and our
> history together has always been one of success.
> 
> I asked for and received a Statement of Work (SOW) that was the usual
> referencing of interactive approaches to building cooperation, respect
> and a sense of teamwork.
> 
> Based on the SOW, I wrote a proposal for a 1 1/2 day Open Space
> conference with the theme, “Looking for Opportunities to Improve Our
> Teamwork”.  
> 
> The proposal was accepted by the client.
> 
>  I am now Stateside. I just talked with the client and things look
> pretty ugly. 
> 
> I now  know the “real” interest in this exercise is to get rid of one
> or two of the office employees. These two people are viewed by a new
> management (my clients) as subversives, if not terrorists. The new boss
> wants them “gone.”
> 
> In 5 days I am scheduled to do this Open Space with six employees
> including the boss.
> 
> I am not at all reluctant to change my proposal and do my “hard hat”
> management consultant routine. 
> 
>  On the other hand this might be a perfect OST opportunity.
> 
> What say you?
> 
> eg
> 
> 
> Elwin Guild
> Future Development International
> Baltimore
> elwinandjoan at yahoo.com
> 
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