Scientists in Open Space

Thu Aug 5 11:35:55 PDT 2010

Hi Suzanne,

 Science and Open Space go well together!  

David Cooperrider ran an Open Space with the Environmental Protection Agency a few years ago for the Destiny phase of a 4-day Appreciative Inquiry Summit.  There were 400 scientists.  David said it was a great success.  The story should be on the Appreciative Inquiry Commons site but the site seems to be down at the moment.

Anne Stadler and I have both run OS's for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  Anne's story was in the first edition of The Change Handbook.  I've copied it below. A p.s. on the Hutch's story.  Shortly after that Open Space, Lee Hartwell was made president of the Hutch, a role he held until retiring earlier this year.

I did one for the Hutch in 2008.  Just the usual great, barrier-breaking conversations.

Peggy

P.S.  In looking through the OSlist archives for the EPA story (which I couldn't find), I noticed that the question about scientists was asked in 2002 and again 2007.  :-)

*******************

Open Space at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
by Anne Stadler
In May, 1996, 120 faculty, students and staff from all Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) divisions attended an unusual two day retreat.  Focusing on the theme: “Integrating basic, clinical and epidemiological sciences to understand human biology and disease,” they used Open Space Technology to initiate conversations and generate practical activities. 

It took foresight and courage to bring this about.  The FHCRC, 2,000 people strong, was organized by traditional scientific disciplines.  It is a global leader in cancer research.  So, why tamper with success? 

Dr. Lee Hartwell, a highly respected geneticist initiated the effort.  He believed that only through synthesizing basic, clinical and population sciences would we understand fundamentals of human biology and disease.  The crucial answers would no longer come from isolated pursuits of different disciplines.  Hartwell chose Open Space Technology to support maximum opportunity for self-organizing.  He felt this would reveal the nascent leadership opportunities for collaboration, learning and action. The choice had his colleagues scratching their heads.  People asked: "Who are the speakers?  What is the agenda?”  When told they would create it on the spot, most colleagues were skeptical. Once confronted with an open agenda and invited to take responsibility for what they cared about, leaders emerged to convene conversations.

That first meeting generated several cross-disciplinary initiatives including a monthly graduate and post-graduate seminar; internal web pages for each laboratory; a dual-mentored training program; several interdisciplinary courses, mini-courses, workshops and lectures.   The event unleashed new leadership and enthusiastic participation.

In 1997, Dr. Hartwell was named FHCRC President/Director.  His first act: convening another center-wide Open Space.   This created new relationships and projects including a long-term, four-division interdisciplinary research program, more courses, some reorganization, and on-going work on diversity and leadership development.  Reflecting on the FHCRC's year-old Open Space era, Hartwell said: “I have found that leadership in daily actions and issues is key.  To effect significant change, many people must become leaders.”

FHCRC's current challenge is becoming a continuous open space learning community, fostering efficient communication among multiple sites with different cultures.  Kim Wells, Organization Development Director, keeps the space open for the evolving learning community.  She reports: “I’ve been offering classes in leadership of complex systems; we’ve started regular two-hour Open Space learning exchanges and we are considering an Open Space on diversity within the year. Using our Intranet for communication and tracking what people are doing and learning is a future prospect.”

Based on Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center's two years of experience, opening space in an organization has these cycles:

·      Convening the circle (calling all relevant stakeholders together on a timely and relevant subject);

·      Revealing the leadership and diversity present (through self-organizing a marketplace);

·      Manifesting practical outcomes in day to day work;

·      Supporting the leadership in oneself and others to respond to emergent realities and possibilities; and

·      Sharing learning through reflection and storytelling. 

_________________________________
Peggy Holman
peggy at peggyholman.com

15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA  98006
425-746-6274
www.peggyholman.com
www.journalismthatmatters.org

Coming in September
Engaging Emergence: Turning Upheaval into Opportunity
www.engagingemergence.com

For the second edition of The Change Handbook, go to: 
www.bkconnection.com/ChangeHandbook 

"An angel told me that the only way to step into the fire and not get burnt, is to become 
the fire".
  -- Drew Dellinger

On Aug 5, 2010, at 10:41 AM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:

> Hi everyone!
> 
> Over the past few months I have been working with a Sponsor connected with international scientists. She is passionate about inviting people to have new conversations around how we “do” science; how science is funded; the future of science and education; and the emerging trends leading into the next era of science. The goal is to experientially engage  a highly diverse group of participants (scientists, policy makers and change agents) in ways that  invite self-organization, collaboration and shared leadership – as opposed to how people interact in your typical conference.  Nationally and internationally, science faces many urgent challenges not unlike the system breakdowns that we see in so many areas. Certainly there is a sense that the basic ingredients for an Open Space are there not the least of which real issues of concerns, high levels of complexity, diverse groups, great urgency.  That said, the Sponsor feels a certain degree of trepidation about how independent-minded, self-directed scientists might respond to Open Space. Not a new question for any of us I know.
>  
> It would be helpful if you could share any experiences you’ve had working with Scientists, globally or nationally.  
> Which sectors?  Themes? Context?  Hurdles? How did it go overall?
>  
> Any and all insights appreciated. Will send you buckets of smiles and sunshine from Florida in return.
>  
> Suzanne
> 
> 
> -- 
> Suzanne Daigle
> NuFocus Strategic Group
> 7159 Victoria Circle
> University Park, FL 34201
> FL 941-359-8877;  
> CT 203-722-2009
> www.nufocusgroup.com
> s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
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