Unconferences

[James Sheldon]

So, an unconference is OS without the two martinis?
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-----Original Message-----
From: Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
Sender: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Date:         Sun, 5 Sep 2010 09:32:01 
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Reply-To: OSLIST <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Subject: Re: [OSLIST] Unconferences

Annamarie - Unconferences have been around for a bit and as I remember some
of the earliest unconferencers included the likes of Michael Herman. So if
there is a problem for the OS community I would guess that it is at least
partially self-inflicted J But personally I don't see much of a problem.
Actually I see it as part of a much larger grand natural experiment in which
we all are learning how to operate most successfully in a self organizing
world (the only one we have, I think). In this context there is no "one
right way" - but surely there are better and more effective ways. The name
of the game is finding these "ways" and the means is multiple  experiments.
I would take Unconference to be one such experiment. Measured against the
simplicity of what might be called "classic Open Space" (sit in a circle,
create a bulletin board, open a marketplace - Go to work) I find the
Unconference to be overdone. In short they are working much too hard! This
isn't wrong, just inefficient. However, measured against the standard
conference, an Unconference is truly a breath of fresh air. In conversations
with unconferencers I suggest that they have made a very good start - and
now why not think of one more (maybe many more) things not to do? If we (I)
have learned anything in this adventure it is that organizing a self
organizing system is a questionable undertaking involving a great deal of
unnecessary work. To say the least.

 

Harrison 

 

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Dr.

Potomac, MD 20854

USA

Phone 301-365-2093

www.openspaceworld.com

www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)

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From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Annamarie
Pluhar
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2010 8:21 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Unconferences

 

Hi everyone, 

 

DIana's posting of how the Agile community is embracing OS reminds me to ask
this community about "unconferences."  I've not seen a discussion of them
but maybe there was one predating my joining of the list.

 

I've been to one "unconference" and was told about another by a colleague
who understands OS. Neither had the careful opening that I think is the core
of making OS work. I have had people say "Oh I've been to an Open Space
meeting" and when I probed, discovered that it was an "unconference" not OS.


 

Have other encountered this? And is this a problem for OS? 

 

Happy Sunday morning. 

 

  

Annamarie Pluhar

 

Pluhar Consulting

Results through effective group process

http://www.pluharconsulting.com

802.451.1941

802.579.5975 (cell)

 

 

 

 





 

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