doing self-organization

Thu May 24 07:19:17 PDT 2007

Michael wrote: "so self-organization is halfway for me because it *un-do-es*
habitual control-based view.  but then what?  powerless?  adrift?
unsupported?  i think not."

Ah Michael -- seems you have an ally who wrote: "Are we then simply sit on
our hands, throw our fate to the winds, and allow the great ocean of
self-organization to roll on by? That is certainly one option, but it is not
the only option – nor is it an option I find particularly attractive. I
believe that there is an infinitely better possibility through which we may
discover deep ways to realize our full potential as human beings, as well as
doing something very useful and good in the world, such as enabling our
organizations to pursue High Performance, and realize it, day in and day
out. To give that possibility a name – I call it leveraging the power of
self-organization. Or in more colloquial terms: Riding the Sweet Spot of the
Wave."

This same writer continues: "Taking our lead from the ongoing experience
with Open Space Technology it appears that the process of self organization
can be enabled and sustained by paying careful attention to eight critical
steps. Perhaps there are more steps or fewer, depending on how one counts,
but for 20 years these eight essentials have proved their worth. The Eight
Essentials are: 1) Do your Home work, 2) Issue an Invitation, 3) Come to the
Circle, 4) Welcome Passion and Responsibility, 5) Remember the Four
Principles, 6) Observe The Law, 7) Keep Grief Working, and 8) Formalize the
System."

As you will have guessed, the writer in question is none other than yours
truly, and all of that verbiage comes from my new book, still in progress.
Hopefully that progress will turn to print providing that the great gods of
B-K (Berrett-Koehler) smile. I feel somewhat badly in not making the full
text available, but it is still churning, so I guess I have to wait. But I
don't feel all that badly because I strongly suspect that you could have
written the same thing, and will easily figure out where I am going.

As you will notice, Invitation heads the list (except for "doing your
homework" which is really about getting ready). What follows should be very
familiar :-) -- and it all comes from our collective experience with Open
Space. So there is a lot to be "done" and none of it involves the imposition
of external, arbitrary control.

I may be missing a point here, but it seems to me that part of the issue
lies in an understanding of "control." I have no problem with control(s)
indeed all self-organizing systems are laced with controls and structures of
all sorts. In fact compared to the fancy systems (structures and controls)
we design, any self respecting self organizing system puts us to shame. We
are mere pikers in the controls department! So the problem is not control
per se, but rather our effort and need to impose OUR version. The truth of
the matter is that we are not smart enough to fully understand the complex
interaction of all the bits and pieces of even a very small self-organizing
system. And when we make the attempt it usually has little to no effect,
thus wasting our effort. Or in the worse case scenario we effectively throw
a spanner in the works with our heavy handedness -- just gums things up.

It seems that we keep sending a boy/girl to do a man's/woman's work. In fact
we don't need to "send" anybody at all. The systems can handle this control
business all by themselves. However, I think we may (must?) find ways to
enable self-organizing systems to do what they can do most effectively. I
believe that is what we have been learning in The Open Space Experiment, and
now is the time to seek broader application. At least that is what I am
proposing in the new book.

Harrison 

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael
Herman
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 7:51 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: doing self-organization

thanks, harrison.  this helps put some things in context for me.
never thought or meant to say Invitation and Self-Organization in
opposition.  just that self-org was also a 'halfway' story for me.
necessary but not sufficient, if you will.  because it's not really a
half-way story, but an all-the-way-in-the-other-direction story.
control on the one hand and self-organization on the other.

control is, as you say, illusion/delusion.  maintained to a point, but
essential not true.  self-organization, on the other hand is
absolutely true.  and yet, i've never been able to be clear about what
to *do* about, or coach other would-be leaders or helpers to do about,
the truth that self-organization is everywhere already at work.

so self-organization is halfway for me because it *un-do-es* habitual
control-based view.  but then what?  powerless?  adrift?  unsupported?
 i think not.  Invitation is the thing i can still *do* with passion,
power, full energy... without running afoul of the truth of
non-control.  i can *do* invitation, and be full and inviting, without
in any way imposing control on anyone else.  in open space, we invite
leaders to invite others to invite others.  nobody in control of
anybody else and everyone in control of their own invitations and
responses to invitations.

so for me, open space and invitation work not because
self-organization is true, but because we live in between some sense
of control and some reality of being swept along in a self-organizing
world (and even more disturbing, a largely self-organizing body, as
well).  the active, conscious practice of Inviting is the only way
i've been able to explain how open space works, surfing the edge
between elusive/eroding control and self-organizing chaos.

what matters in open space, i think, is that we invite and practice
two things at once.  i'm told that, as of some years ago, only
something like 16% of the population (of somewhere, america, world, i
dunno) could maintain awareness of at least two states of reality
simultaneously.  parent/child, learning/contributing,
passion/responsibility, giving/receiving, 4 principles/one law,
control/self-org, order/chaos, me/you.  for me, Space really opens
when I let the two sides of one of these pairs be both true and both
still distinct.  when i let even just one other being be as real to me
as i am to myself.

so no opposition and more to the story than self-organization.  every
invitation at once a solid piece of practical, even orderly, work and
also a simple call/prayer to the god(s) of self-organization,
simultaneous and still distinct.

m

On 5/23/07, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> Michael -- Not a doubt about it. Invitation is critical. From the first
> moment I ever saw and/or thought about OST a key for me was what I called
> Voluntary Self-Selection. In a word, people are present because they care
to
> be present -- and to insure that essential condition, Invitation is the
only
> way. Command and control doesn't do it. Assignment won't make it. Only
when
> people are there of their own free will do useful things happen. So I
> totally agree. Invitation is the critical first step towards real open
> space.
>
> But I must confess that I am having a little difficulty in seeing
Invitation
> and Self-organization as being in opposition, as some sort of either/or.
In
> my experience, truly effective self-organization at the level of human
> systems always begins with invitation.
>
> Now it is quite true that self-organization, (I believe) is a fundamental
> force in the cosmos, not unlike gravity -- and the last time I checked,
all
> human beings were part of the cosmos. So in this sense, you are right, we
> don't have any choice about self-organization or not-self-organization,
for
> exactly the same reason we have no choice about gravity. It simply comes
> with the territory. We do have, however, and enormous range of choices
when
> it comes to how we appreciate self-organization, align ourselves with it,
> and perhaps even learn to use it to our advantage.
>
> It seems that a large number of people choose to ignore it completely, or
> (what amounts to the same thing) presume that they are in control. I
suppose
> this works up to a point (the illusion/delusion can be maintained) but at
> the end of the day such a choice is self defeating and at the very least
it
> leads to very ineffective and possibly destructive behavior. (See George
> Bush et al)
>
> The connection between OST and self-organization originally occurred for
me
> for admittedly academic reasons. The fact that Open Space works as it does
> was frankly inexplicable from any other theoretical base. According to
> tradition organizational theory, OS simply cannot work! But it does. And
my
> curiosity bump got the better of me -- so I guess that makes it academic
:-)
>
>
> Can I prove the connection? No, but if the connection is not present I
then
> need to find some alternative explanation -- and so far I haven't come up
> with one. Maybe somebody else will??
>
> But I guess the real question is -- does the connection between OST and
> Self-Organization make any real difference other than assuaging my
academic
> interests? For me the answer is a resounding, yes. And it has everything
to
> do with the personal, the subjective, what has heart and meaning for each
> one of us.
>
> It occurs to me that much of the pain and anxiety present in our selves
and
> our world comes from a deep estrangement from our true selves and also
from
> the fundamental flow of the natural world. There are many ways to talk
about
> this, but a most powerful one, in my view, is to see the point of
> estrangement occurring when, as, or if, we think we are in charge of
things.
> In control! Why we do this is interesting. Perhaps we do this simply
because
> we think we can. And lot of times, I think we do it because we don't see
any
> alternatives. Somebody must be in charge, and it might as well be us. And
if
> nobody is in charge thing would definitely get out of control. Very Bad!
>
> In Open Space, we experience reality in a very different way. Nobody is in
> charge, and wonderful things happen! More than that, it really feels good,
> and lots of folks have remarked that somehow being in Open Space is like
> coming home. And I think that is Right On. It is coming home to what we
> truly are -- self-organizing critters, along with all the rest of the
> cosmos.
>
> And of course if that is true, Open Space is not some strange new state of
> affairs, it is simply the way things are 24X7. And the great relief we
> experience (coming home) is simply that we have finally gotten with the
> program.
>
> For a long time I have referred to OST as a "halfway technology" --
> something we can do until we are ready to do the real thing. Chris
Corrigan
> has put this much better, I think, when he talks about OST being training
> wheels -- something which is very useful for a starter, but also to be
> removed when we really learn how to ride. I like that.
>
> And it all beings with invitation! A real invitation, which we can refuse
or
> accept. We can choose to remain in estrangement. We can choose to come
home.
> But the invitation is open and it is personal. I think.
>
> Harrison
>
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, Maryland 20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> Skype hhowen
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website www.ho-image.com
> OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archivesVisit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael
> Herman
> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 6:24 PM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: doing self-organization, was unconf strikes again
>
> hi all,
>
> catching up a bit here and glad to see our work leaking into the
> mainstream press.
>
> i have been thinking about a comment elsewhere, about
> 'self-organization' being the thing inside of open space as
> process/method.
>
> i've never been a fan of the self-org story.  it's always seemed so
> academic to me, overly scientific, overly objective, and underly
> subjective and personal.  i've read some of the requisite works on the
> topic, but i've never felt like i could really make that story fly,
> never make the case.
>
> revisiting lately, i notice another thing that's missing for me in the
> self-org story, as i know it anyway, is any instruction about what one
> can *do* in the midst of it.  i guess this is why i've opted for the
> 'inviting' story for some years now.
>
> i think it's interesting that in the wee small description included in
> the article here, the two *doings* i noticed were "offering" and
> "inviting."  i think these might be even closer to the heart of ost
> than self-organization.  or maybe the thing that comes before
> self-organization.  after all, nobody can make or do
> self-organization.  we can only invite it.  can only offer our
> invitations, as leaders, sponsors, facilitators, participants.
>
> so i'm glad to see that this article does well to get that part of our
> game quite right.
>
> thanks all,
>
> michaelh
>
>
>
>
>
> On 5/13/07, Tree Fitzpatrick <therese.fitzpatrick at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Harrison. . . . this stream of conversation seems like as good a place
as
> > any other for me to tell you that I love you, Harrison Owen, even though
I
> > don't really know you, and I am deeply grateful for the gift of open
space
> > technology released into the public domain.  As Chris said, OS is so far
> > ahead of the curve, gosh. . . . .   I love to think about this
> curmudgeonly
> > man out there in the universe doing his best to be a good person and do
> good
> > work and he stumbles upon open space technology, much like Frodo
stumbled
> > upon the ring . . .
> >
> > gosh golly, I am glad you showed up, Harrison.
> >
> > And everyone reading:  I am glad you showed up too.
> >
> > And me.  I'm glad I showed up.
> >
> >
> > On 5/13/07, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > Kaliya -- having had some extensive contact with the press over the
> years,
> > I
> > > count it a good day when I am NOT quoted. With very few exceptions,
they
> > > always seem to get it "WRONG" -- and sometimes disastrously so. And
then
> > you
> > > are left with the interesting task of explaining what you did NOT say.
> And
> > > very quickly you find yourself caught in the "When did you stop
beating
> > your
> > > wife" syndrome. Not a good place to be.
> > >
> > > But in fairness to my friends in the 4th Estate, there have been some
> > > marvelous articles on Open Space. The New York Times did a superb
> feature
> > > story, as did The Washington Post and a number of others. I am not
sure
> > how
> > > much all of that is worth (outside of "historical interest") but it
> might
> > be
> > > useful at some point in order to help some of the "Unconference" folks
> > > understand their roots.
> > >
> > > It is not about pride of authorship, or even pride of place. I just
feel
> > > sorry for these folks not being able to access the 22 year experience
> that
> > > we all have shared. There will always be people who want to re-invent
> the
> > > wheel, but they could save no small amount of pain and agony if they
> were
> > to
> > > check in on what came before.
> > >
> > > Harrison
> > >
> > > Harrison Owen
> > > 7808 River Falls Drive
> > > Potomac, Maryland 20854
> > > Phone 301-365-2093
> > > Skype hhowen
> > > Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> > > Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> > > Personal website www.ho-image.com
> > > OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> > > archivesVisit:
> > www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Kaliya Hamlin [mailto:kaliya at mac.com]
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 2:25 PM
> > > To: hhowen at verizon.net
> > > Cc: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: Unconferences strike again.
> > >
> > > Yes well.
> > > they also failed to mention to of the women they interviewed who are
> > > working closely with the men extensively quoted and referenced.
> > > Just the business/tech media in action I suppose.
> > > http://kaliyasblogs.net/unconference/?p=55
> > > =Kaliya
> > >
> > > On Sunday, May 13, 2007, at 09:53AM, "Harrison Owen"
> <hhowen at verizon.net>
> > > wrote:
> > > >Seems like our secret it out! Or maybe the secret is that Open Space
> has
> > > >gone under deep cover. See the recent Business Week
> > >
> >
>
>http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_20/b4034080.htm?chan=search
> > >
> > > >
> > > >Harrison
> > > >
> > > >Harrison Owen
> > > >7808 River Falls Drive
> > > >Potomac, Maryland   20854
> > > >Phone 301-365-2093
> > > >Skype hhowen
> > > >Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> > <http://www.openspaceworld.com/>
> > > >
> > > >Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> > > >Personal website www.ho-image.com
> > > >OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the
> archives
> > > >Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
> > > ><http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >*
> > > >*
> > >
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> >
> > --
> > Love rays,
> > Tree Fitzpatrick
> >
> > http://thecultureoflove.blogspot.com/
> >
> > . . . the great and incalculable grace of love, which says, with
> Augustine,
> > "I want you to be," without being able to give any particular reason for
> > such supreme and unsurpassable affirmation.  -- Hannah Arendt
> >
> > 1335 Montecito Ave Apt. 35
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>
> --
>
> Michael Herman
> Michael Herman Associates
> 300 West North Ave #1105
> Chicago IL 60610 USA
>
> phone: 312-280-7838
> email: michael at michaelherman.com
> skype: globalchicago
>
> http://www.michaelherman.com
> http://www.openspaceworld.org
> http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org
>
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-- 

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Ave #1105
Chicago IL 60610 USA

phone: 312-280-7838
email: michael at michaelherman.com
skype: globalchicago

http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.openspaceworld.org
http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org

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