FW: Craig

Thu Nov 1 07:49:48 PDT 2007

I concur with the need to recognise that some people need to see structure if they are not to get the heebie-jeebies. 

I use OS a lot within my organisation and with clients that we serve. But I pick and choose as to when to use OS simply because I find that, unless there is real 'give a damn' energy in the room, it does not always work so well. So I often start with a semblance of order, and take the group through imaging exercises to find out where their passions lie, and then structure OS around the emerging issues. 

But I have found that with some groups, there is a fear that comes from the unknown. I therefore, with such groups, often circulate a very boxy and uninspiring agenda. It is easy to do, easy to get rid of, creates the initial comfort that some require, and offers a bit of a thrill when it is chucked out. BUT, you will always find that there are those who cannot function without the agenda. And that is when the matrix really works.

To change tack:

If any of you are interested in building connections between workshop sessions over time, may I recommend a recent work by Danny Burns of the University of the West of England.

"Systemic Action Research: A strategy for whole system change" is published on October 17th by Policy Press. 
https://www.policypress.org.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=10032&products_id=1007

Also available from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Systemic-Action-Research-Strategy-System/dp/1861347375/ref=sr_1_6/026-6129499-0830843?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189584837&sr=1-6

Here, he looks at ways of fostering enquiry into issues of concern and setting up action point (and OS is a good way to do that) - and then connecting these into sequential strands of enquiry that can be brought together. This has increased the use of OS in our practice as well as other methods and approaches.

Stuart Worsley
Director, Kenya and Sudan
SNV - The Netherlands Development Organisation
Ngong Lane, Off Ngong Road
P.O.Box 30776 - 00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 387 3656
Fax: +254 20 387 3650
Email: sworsley at snvworld.org
Web: www.snvworld.org

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Barry Owen
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 4:35 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Craig

I have done this a few times (2) - Worked great. The times I did it were small groups (less than 10 people), and the purpose of the meetings was Strategic Vision stuff for a Leadership Team.

The first time, we did it by accident - We had a 2 day retreat scheduled, and the "sponsor" had failed to think about the structure of the meeting . . . I was in the room, so I just said: "Let's Open The Space!" We did - Had @ 20 Issues posted . . . The group "self-organized" the time allotted . . . and everything got done.

That first time went so well that we did the 2nd one intentionally. This one was to develop the "Plan" . . . Again, it worked great.

I'm not sure I'm ready to try this with a larger crowd - I think there really is value to having some semblance of visible structure for those folks in the crowd who get the heebie-jeebies when they see "weird stuff."

b

Helping REALTORS discover their unique, personal Career Path, and coaching them towards Success and Balance!

Website www.theowengroup.net

Visit my BLOG @ http://creatingspaces.blogspot.com/

Coaching Blog www.activerain.com/barryo

Barry Owen

Principal Broker / Productivity Coach
Keller Williams Realty - Green Hills Market Center
30 Burton Hills Blvd Ste 175
Nashville, TN 37215
Direct - 615.425.3622
Toll Free 866.375.0965
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Skype - barryo06

Keller Williams Realty is a learning-based Training & Consulting Company supporting our Real Estate Professionals by offering business models, systems, tools, & support to Build Careers Worth Having, Businesses Worth Owning, and Lives worth living . . . We are THE fastest growing, most innovative real estate company in America.

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Raffi Aftandelian
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 12:29 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Craig

Thank you for the story, Craig.

As for 

> Have you ever done an OS where you did not even schedule the sessionsâ€”
> you simply let them happen as they need to happen, or is this schedule
> a needed â€œbasic bonesâ€ of the structure?

I recall hearing in a butterfly conversation at the Goa WOSonOS that the
Spirited Work community near Seattle hasn't used the the time-space matrix
since the late 90's. Mark? Peggy? Anne? Michael? Tree? 

warmly,
Raffi

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