Convergence for Group Consensus

Sun Mar 9 11:10:10 PDT 2008

Great discussion.  I'm very interested in this evolution of our
understanding, and thanks to everyone for sharing your experience and
wisdom.  

I assumed that the ability to facilitate 'natural convergence' is one of the
most wonderful, magical, and marketable features of OST, and that the voting
process, far from forcing consensus on a group, is just a way to reveal that
convergence in a more obvious way (if it wasn't clear already).  

But on a more practical note, let me ask:

- Harrison, I'd still love to know how you use five dots!

- Michael, I'd love to know you facilitate a group in moving from reading
the book of proceedings 'directly' to action planning.  

Thanks . 

Marty

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael M
Pannwitz
Sent: 07 March 2008 08:45
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Convergence for Group Consensus

After working for a while "by the book" and doing the 55 dots 

convergence followed by action planning around the 7 most highly voted 

issues I came to the conclusion that I, clients,the real business issue 

at hand, the world, etc. dont benefit much from consensus (especially by 

voting) but get real mileage out of PASSION.

Since then I have successfully convinced clients/sponsors to move 

directly from the divergent phase closed by reading the book of 

proceedings to action planning.

Open Space Technology from where I stand is an action orienting (not 

"action oriented")process that runs on passion and responsibility. Of 

course, following that course seems risky to many, lets have consensus 

first. My repeated experience in OST events has been, however, that 

regardless of what "consensus" processes produced, action required 

needed passion and responsibility. Projects evolved independent, outside 

of, in contrast to the "consensus" apparently found in "convergence" and 

the issue with the highest number of dots led to no direct action ...and 

that has to do with letting go of control. So one of my suspicions has 

been that the call for consensus is also fed by control needs that close 

space rather than keeping it open.

Greetings from Berlin

mmp

Harrison Owen wrote:

> Marty said: Here are my two questions:

> 

> a)  In the Users Manual, you say that "with a sizable group (fifty and

> larger), electronic tallying is infinitely preferred."  But in this email,

> you say that "with small groups (<100) Sticky dots do the job."

> 

> b)  In the Users Manual, you recommend the use of 55 sticky dots per
person,

> but in your email, you recommend just 5.  In the quest for simplicity, it

> seems you have removed about 5 per year!

> 

> My Answer --

> 

> Consistency was never one of my virtues. And when it comes to closure

> (consensus or otherwise) I recommend Sniffy. Works every time, but you may

> not be asked back! But I never was a real fan of consensus. Moving the

> business seemed more important.

> 

> 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

> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Martin

> Boroson

> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 5:34 PM

> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU

> Subject: Re: Convergence for Group Consensu

> 

> Harrison

> 

> I checked the Users Manual (always next to my desk) on convergence, as you

> suggested.

> 

> Forgive me for quoting you back to you, but there are a couple of

> differences between what you said in the Manual and what you've written

> below, and I'm really interested in understanding how your
thinking/practice

> has evolved in the last ten years.  (I'm also planning a couple of 3-day

> events where formal convergence and voting is very important to the

> clients.)

> 

> Here are my two questions:

> 

> a)  In the Users Manual, you say that "with a sizable group (fifty and

> larger), electronic tallying is infinitely preferred."  But in this email,

> you say that "with small groups (<100) Sticky dots do the job."

> 

> b)  In the Users Manual, you recommend the use of 55 sticky dots per
person,

> but in your email, you recommend just 5.  In the quest for simplicity, it

> seems you have removed about 5 per year!

> 

> :)

> 

> Many thanks,

> 

> Marty

> 

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison

> Owen

> Sent: 04 March 2008 13:15

> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU

> Subject: Re: Convergence for Group Consensu

> 

> Pretty simple -- Sticky dots or voting. (Details all in the User's

> Guide)With small groups (<100) Sticky dots do the job. Just give everybody

> the same number of dots (5 works well) and invite them to past their dots
on

> the Issue(s) they love. They can place all the dots, a few or none. Then

> count the dots or just eyeball it.

> 

> 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

> archives Visit: www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Kimberley

> Willing

> Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 11:09 PM

> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU

> Subject: Convergence for Group Consensu

> 

> Does anyone have any experience or advice in 'converging' open space, in 

> such a way that the emerging consensus of the whole group is identified?  

> Specifically, I have a 2 day event coming up - the purpose of which is to 

> develop a best practice framework for reporting on the topic, and at least

> to develop a check list of issues to be addressed in preparing such a 

> reporting framework. 

> 

> Day 1 could be spent diverging (in Open Space) and I am wondering how best

> to converge on Day 2, given that one outcome mine host would like to see, 

> is an articulation of the level of agreement of the whole group on certain

> matters.

> 

> With thanks,

> 

> Kim.

> 

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