The Theme
Harrison Owen
hhowen at verizon.net
Wed Jun 20 11:42:44 PDT 2007
There are probably lots of ways to say this, but for me the presenting
conditions for Open Space are as follows: 1) A real "business" issue (no
matter how you define "business"). Point is that it is something that people
really care about. 2) Lots of complexity in terms of the issue so that no
single person, or even small group, could figure it out. 3) Lots of
diversity in terms of the people who come. 4) Real passion and probably
conflict. 5) A decision time of yesterday - this is a matter of some
urgency.
There is no absolute metric here - but I have found that if one or two are
missing, or only present in minimal proportions, the Open Space is likely to
be dull. Even boring. And who wants to be bored in Open Space?
Harrison
_____
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Andrew
Ballance
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 9:40 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Fw: The Theme
I absolutely agree with you Deborah. Effectively, one of the classical
preconditions of Open Space is not satisfied, and that will lead to a very
different type of gathering. If there is no pressing issue, then there must
be some other motivator for people showing up. So maybe (daring thought, I
know), there are actually only two preconditions for Open Space: Complexity
of System is high and Complexity of outcome / direction is high. (I can only
ever remember 3, those two and that there is a pressing issue).
I'm reminded of an image I've drawn several times now in Open Space when
explaining to people (myself initially) what happens (not that it's
essential to this discussion, but I thought I would share it). Here's the
link: (no I never learnt to draw! :)
http://www.pixagogo.com/9943784165
In the image, there are two spaces: inside and outside the space. Outside
the space, there's the motivation for coming into the space (red arrows),
and then the energy and new thoughts and visions that participants depart
with (thick orange). Inside you need that great big messy churn of thoughts
and perspectives. You need complexity of system and of future direction in
order to get a good 'churn'.
If a community is gathering, then I would say it is natural when you're
sitting in a circle staring into the eyes of all the people you share
beliefs with one some level, that you will talk about your present state,
your practices and beliefs, the future of the community, the future. These
are always complex within a non-trivial human system. The theme is unstated
but effectively the community and its practices, however you interpret
that...
And as we all know, that's ok too! :)
----- Original Message ----
From: Deborah Hartmann <deborah at hartmann.net>
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 12:02:41 PM
Subject: Re: The Theme
I've been mulling over the BarCamp phenom and its relation to Open
Space. I'm starting to think there are 2 kinds of events:
Issue/Problem focused (classic Open Space)
Community-based (BarCamp = OS minus Focused Theme/Reports/Action Planning )
For ex: I'm starting to think maybe the theme for TorCamp is always the
same: Something like - building a more vibrant software community in
Toronto (the theme of the original TorCamp). In these, the right people
come because they are/want to be part of the community. The community
becomes whatever they bring, so it's the right stuff. We want them to
bring a variety of stuff, because it's not about focus but serendipity
and new connections...
New, raw thoughts. Got to run. Will check in to see what others think
and build on this.
btw: I'm running an exciting session today - not OS, but two different
retrospectives for an organisation: Cultural Retro followed by a Process
exercise called Value Stream Mapping (from the Lean Manufacturing
school). Tomorrow they begin to step into their improved future process! :-)
deb
Chris Corrigan wrote:
> 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
> <mailto: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
> >
> > *
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>
> --
> 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 * *
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--
Deborah Hartmann
Agile Process Coach
deborah AT hartmann DOT net
mobile: fouronesix 996 4337
"Learn the principle,
abide by the principle, and
dissolve the principle."
-- Bruce Lee
*
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