The Theme
Ingrid Ebeling
ie at institut-ebus.de
Thu Jun 21 04:29:04 PDT 2007
In that sence I am a fan of good themes in open sapce whith business,
community or colleagues.
Ingrid
EBUS Institut für Entwicklungsberatung und Supervision
Ingrid Ebeling • Am Alten Gehäge 6 • D - 30 657 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-336 03 30 • Fax: +49-511-336 03 47
e-mail: ie at institut-ebus.de • http://www.institut-ebus.de
Am 20.06.2007 um 20:42 schrieb Harrison Owen:
> 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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