OS and mediation

[Chris Corrigan]

Yes Okay....so the next great book to write on the application of Open Space will be titled :"It Depends: Applying Open Space Everywhere"

:-)

Chris
----
Chris Corrigan
chris at chriscorrigan.com
http://www.chriscorrigan.com


On 2010-11-15, at 11:59 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:

> I may be unclear on what you are saying or asking: mediation is something that helps people articulate differences, hear each others' stories, decide what is or is not common ground, and so on.  Many different tools / processes can be used - something similar to counseling, or Restorative Justice Circles, or guided conversations, or many other processes.  Perhaps during a series of events or for a specific reason Open Space may be the right tool, for other situations, the wrong tool, I suspect. Those of you who specialize in mediation will of course have more knowledge about these things.
> 
> And then there is conference design. Whether it is a mediators conference or a youth activist conference or a doctors conference.
> 
> And I love what Bui said:
> 
>> But as with anything, it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Decide on the purpose first and then pick the tool.
> 
> To me that is good design.
> Analyze objectives, desired outcomes, time available, space available, context, participant numbers, what comes before and after and so on - then select the tool(s) to best fit the need.
> 
> I have found, Arno, that it is best - when mixing traditional conference (workshops, presentations, whatever) with some time also in Open Space (the more time the better to let participants do their thing) - it is really ideal to put the Open Space as the last part of the conference. 
> 
> 1) Because participants can use that time to talk about new / emergent things as well as to reflect on things they have learned or heard earlier in the conference. 
> 
> 2) Because the Closing Circle of an Open Space can be a great closure / closing reflection for a conference. 
> 
> And 3) Because if conference attendees experience OS earlier in the conference and then have to 'fit themselves into the shape of' a traditional conference after that (sitting listening to a speaker, listening in a workshop, listening to a panel presentation) - they can get uncomfortable and feel their time is more useful self-organizing and continuing to meet together to talk about what matters to them (including wandering back out into the hallways to continue their meaningful conversations that began in Open Space).
> 
> So for a mixed-format conference I always recommend that OS be the final section...
> 
> Lisa
> 
> Lisa Heft
> Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
> Opening Space
> lisaheft at openingspace.net
>  
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