Convergence or Group Consensus
Harrison Owen
hhowen at verizon.net
Fri Mar 14 09:41:41 PDT 2008
Marty - the issue you raise is (obviously) a real one - and the suggestions
that Diane and Stuart makes can deal with the problem. But for myself, I
prefer a different approach which starts with some very serious conversation
with the sponsor (the management) BEFORE I ever agree to do the Open Space.
The conversation centers on what they are expecting and how are they going
to deal with the results.
It if turns out that they are anticipating results totally in line with the
current Plan, I suggest that they may be seriously limiting the group's
potential contributions to the detriment of the future of the organization.
They are also making an assumption (a faulty one I believe) that they are
the only ones who can have good ideas combined with the necessary skill and
resources to secure the implementation of those ideas.
I understand that some of our colleagues feel that this sort of limitation
is appropriate and therefore certain "givens" are specified to calm the
nerves of anxious managers. In a word some things are simply placed off
limits.
Truthfully I have never seen this work very well. It is almost inevitably
the case that the given No/Nos are discussed anyhow, but surreptitiously and
therefore depriving the organization as a whole of some useful conversation,
which at the very least might expose an elephant or moose hiding under the
table. On the other side of the ledger, such limitations may well prevent a
whole new business opportunity from emerging. That can get very expensive
(in terms of lost revenue) and in these days where the "agile, innovative
organizations" are the premium class - all of this seems to be going in
diametrically the wrong direction.
So no givens, no limits - But does that mean that a blank check is being put
upon the table? No! If the management team were thought of as an investment
group, they would be crazy and irresponsible were they to do such a thing.
No investment group automatically funds/supports a proposal simply because
it is offered. But if they refuse to look at offerings, their investment
portfolio is going to get pretty thin.
As an alternative I propose that the group be invited to go where it cares
to go (Follow Passion with Responsibility). Their passion will generate the
new ideas, but they must take responsibility for implementation, at least
the first steps. Concretely this will mean that if the new idea requires a
million dollars for implementation, they will have to make the pitch! And
not all pitches will be successful. Most aren't. But at least the process is
transparent and the integrity of the group sustained.
Of course it may happen that the group came up with a scorchingly hot new
idea which Management refuses to support - so the group takes off with the
idea and creates a new business. But that's how new businesses are born. And
woe to the management that consistently lets hot new ideas out the door. One
might think of IBM and the PC, Bell Labs and the transistor to name a few.
We often talk about trusting the process, but I really think it is all about
trusting the people - which in my book is what Open Space is all about.
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Martin
Boroson
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 9:08 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Convergence or Group Consensus
Thank you Harrison, Michael and Michael for your simple, elegant
suggestions.
I am wondering how you (or anyone else) would handle this situation:
The client is happy to open the space for issues and ideas, and happy to see
some initial steps taken on those ideas, but doesn't want to give too much
away in the convergence process (or the 'invitation to action phase'). The
client just isn't willing to give a green light, in advance, to whatever
project emerges, and doesn't want to mislead the people assembled. Would
the re-opening of the space on the third day, with the question "What next?"
imply that the setting of priorities is the group's decision? Or that the
participants can proceed with whatever they want afterward? I imagine that
many people leave Open Space events with this kind of expectation, only to
face a different reality at work the next day.
How would you handle this with the client? How would you communicate this
to the group? Any other thoughts?
Many thanks,
Marty
_____
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Harrison
Owen
Sent: 09 March 2008 21:52
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Convergence for Group Consensus
Harrison, I'd still love to know how you use five dots!
This is highly complex, so pay close attention! Simply give out 5 sticky
dots per person. Instructions are: Stick your dots where you care to. You
could put all your dots on your favorite issue, or spread them out over
several issues. You choose. All of this presumes that the issue papers are
still on the wall. When the pandemonium ceases, just count the dots and you
will have the "winners."
Michael, I'd love to know you facilitate a group in moving from reading the
book of proceedings 'directly' to action planning.
Needless to say I am not Michael, but I know how I do it. And this is not
rocket science either. After they have reviewed "The Book" (usually 45 min
to and hour), I say something like - Now you have read the book - where do
you want to go next? It is time for action. At that point I simply open
space again (without all the usual build up) by indicating the pile of
papers and magic markers in the middle of the floor and invite anyone who
cares - to identify any issue they want to move to action (take
responsibility for it). Write it down, announce it, and post it on the wall.
That issue could be one previously discussed, some combination, or something
totally new. Anybody who care to join them does so, and the action teams are
assembled. After about an hour we have q quick round of report outs on
immediate next steps - and it is usually time for the closing circle.
So go for it Michael!
Harrison
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland 20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com
Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Martin
Boroson
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 2:10 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Convergence for Group Consensus
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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