The Theme

[Chris Corrigan]

Sometimes the theme is important, for a certain focus, for work that is
directed to fairly concrete results.  For open conferences though, I can't
remember the themes of any of the conferences I have been at, let alone the
ones in Open Space.  It's interesting that despite weak themes, people come
anyway.  Open Space is then perfect in this situation.  I always invite
people in the opening circle to simply connect with the energy that brought
them to the gathering and see if there is a compelling question that they
are willing to host a conversation around.

I have to admit a rather nagging frustration with conference organizers who
insist on action outcomes from meetings that are poorly planned.  There is
nothing wrong with a conference being an open learning experience.
Conferences are not the same thing as organizing meetings.

My basic template for OSOnOS  is simply this: open space for 2.5 days.
Whatever needs to happen will happen.   At the OSonOS meetings I have been a
part of, it's the quality of the interaction that matters, not the focus on
notes, or action planning.  Just being with others, enjoying each other's
company and learning a few new things is enough for me.

In this case then, it makes all kinds of sense to have an invitation that is
light on the theme and heavy on the "look who is coming" part.  Having a
website set up with an RSS feed to continue to update people about the
conference as the plan is unfolding is a useful idea.  As people confirm,
you post their names to the site and it inspires others to come. Once
everyone is in the room, open space and get out of the way.  What could be
simpler?

Chris

On 6/19/07, Michael M Pannwitz <mmpanne at boscop.org> wrote:
>
> If you follow the admonition "never work harder than you have to"
> (Practice of Peace) letting go of the idea of having a theme for the
> WOSonOS might come easier...Open Space on Open Space rocks enough for me
> and all the OSonOS that I have been too have rocked or whatever
> regardless of the theme or no theme.
> Its different, however, if the business issue differs from "Open Space
> on Open Space". Then it is the task of the sponsor and a planning group
> (best a crossection of the whole system that is to be invited)to create
> the theme. I have seen some great, inspiring themes emerge out of
> sessions like that.
> However, looking back, it seems to me that the act of finding a theme
> (getting the act together) is much more significant for the Planning
> Group and its task of writing an invitation for their event and all the
> other stuff they do
> than the theme itself.
> Greetings from Berlin to Toronto
> mmp
>
>
>
> Deborah Hartmann wrote:
> > Bhavesh wrote
> >>
> >> ... I felt the theme wasn't particularly powerful or meaningful. It
> >> may be better to have no theme, or to use this time more for sharing
> >> and exploring between OS facilitators.
> >>
> > I've been thinking a lot on this - the BarCamp community tends also to
> > have weak themes, and yet their events definitely rock.
> >
> > Are there two kinds of events? (or more?) I mean:
> > a) to solve a given problem / explore a particular issue
> > b) simply to build a community
> >
> > Themes can feel contrived for the second kind of event. However, I
> > strongly believe that the theme is a key to "whoever comes is the right
> > people". So... how is a theme selected/constructed when there seems to
> > be no one common issue?
> >
> > Ex: RoCoCoCamp had a very weak theme... the organizers had a really hard
> > time coming up with one, and then it wasn't clearly articulated or even
> > consistently used in event invitations. But the event clearly had a big
> > impact, to read the blogs and news that came after.
> >
> > Anyone else thinking about this? What have you done in similar
> situations?
> >
> > Thanks
> > deb
> >
> > Deborah Hartmann
> > Agile Process Coach
> > deborah DOT hartmann DOT net
> >
> > "Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the
> > principle." -- Bruce Lee
> >
> > *
> > *
> > ==========================================================
> > 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
>



-- 
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

Principal, Harvest Moon Consultants, Ltd.
http://www.harvestmoonconsultants.com

*
*
==========================================================
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/20070619/eb6a8ba1/attachment-0016.htm>