[OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a newbie?

[doug]

Jeff--

Thanks for delving deeper. I think you are spot on with all your
considerations, Jeff.

			:- Doug.




On Mon, 2011-12-05 at 17:27 -0800, Jeff Aitken wrote:
> Thanks Doug, great suggestion! I drafted this but did not send it
> until now. Im not entirely happy with it but here goes.
> 
> I'd love to talk about how we decide the number of session times to
> offer in an open space of a day or, in particular, a half day. For me,
> it seems like an intuitive choice based on a mix of factors.
> 
> What do others do?
> 
> Longer sessions can allow for more depth and reflection, and perhaps
> wider participation from folks who are not usually the first to speak.
> Shorter (and therefore a larger number of) sessions can allow for more
> topics and more variety of topics to be posted.
> 
> Some of the decision is mathematics, based on the number of
> participants expected, and the number of breakout spaces that are
> available.
> 
> I often use the intuition (based on experience, but not carefully
> documented) that up to 75 participants will likely post up to 20
> topics for a half day or a full day. This includes topics that are
> combined during the marketplace. To feel more comfortable I might plan
> for 25 topics. And know that a few topics will not attract
> participants and the convenor will go elsewhere (or sit and write solo
> session notes.)
> 
> If there are 10 good breakout spaces, I would feel fine about planning
> for two longer session times. If there are fewer spaces available, I'd
> assume 3 session times to be sure that every topic gets a space.
> 
> Of course I would rather decide based on the theme of the meeting and
> the needs of the sponsor and the group. Thorny or complex themes may
> deserve longer session times (and probably a longer OST.) Themes that
> seem more like a brainstorming, idea generating meeting may work with
> shorter times and a larger number of sessions. Let these kinds of
> factors guide the decision and find the spaces to make it happen - if
> you can.
> 
> Finally, as I wrote to Leslie, there's the question about the length
> of the closing period, and whether it will involve some kind of
> convergence beyond a talking-circle style go-around. As Chris C says,
> we are not holding a meeting, we are holding a harvest, and what's the
> optimal way to harvest the ideas and insights of this gathered group,
> and facilitate them moving into action, based on the needs of the
> organization?
> 
> The magic of OST is, of course, that participants will decide for
> themselves what the shape of the meeting will become. We will watch
> and learn whether "when it's over, it's over" tends to extend the
> shorter session times, or truncate the longer ones, or whether, to
> paraphrase Goldilocks, they seem to be just right.
> 
> Jeff
> 
> On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 7:53 PM, doug <ost at footprintsinthewind.com>
> wrote:
> > Leslie--
> >
> > Excuse me for being late to your party!
> >
> > I like your invitation. I sometimes add to the end of my invitations
> > "There will be someone there with whom you need to speak."
> >
> > Have you asked other people in the company what topic would get
> their
> > attention?
> >
> > Let me ask the opposite question to Jeff: What if you had 2 sessions
> of
> > roughly 80 minutes each? These would allow a more in-depth
> conversation,
> > and more reflection time. Time for those who hold back to have a
> chance
> > to get up their nerve--and feel heard.
> >
> >                        :- Doug.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Wed, 2011-11-09 at 20:40 +0000, Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC)
> wrote:
> >> Thanks Barry!
> >>
> >> This is on the long side, and for that I apologize. Below is my
> draft
> >> Open Space Invitation and other notes to get myself organized. Any
> and
> >> all feedback and advice would be great!  Evocative questions and
> ways
> >> to insert humor welcome too.
> >>
> >> Here goes my draft:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Draft Invitation(to be sent via company email by the Communications
> >> Division to everyone)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Creative’s Internal Training and You!
> >>
> >> What are the most urgent training needs at Creative and why?
> >>
> >> What would it take to make training opportunities the best part
> about
> >> your job?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Come join us for a fun and provocative gathering on Friday,
> December
> >> 2nd 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
> >>
> >> Morning drinks and snacks and lunch will be provided.
> >>
> >> Large West Wing Conference Room.
> >>
> >> No need to bring or prepare anything – just yourself and an open,
> >> creative mind!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> By the end of this gathering….
> >>
> >> 1)    Every issue of concern to anybody will have been raised, if
> they
> >> took responsibility for doing that.
> >>
> >> 2)    All issues will have received full discussion, to the extent
> >> desired.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> And just a day or two later, the issues and discussions will be
> >> documented and in the hands of all participants.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Who should come? Whoever cares.  This is all about voluntary
> >> self-selection.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> And from here down is my own preparation, not to be shared publicly
> >> with the invitees….
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Basic info
> >>
> >> Estimating 20-60 people
> >>
> >> Friday, December 2, 2011 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Draft Schedule
> >>
> >> 9:00- 9:20: Opening Circle
> >>
> >> 9:20- 9:45: Create agenda and open the marketplace
> >>
> >> 9:45- 10:45: Session 1
> >>
> >> 10:45- 11:45: Session 2
> >>
> >> Lunch available from 11:15 on
> >>
> >> 11:45-12:30: Session 3
> >>
> >> 12:30 – 1:00: Closing Circle
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Preparations
> >>
> >> Signs of:
> >>
> >> ·         4 principles,
> >>
> >> ·         1 law,
> >>
> >> ·         theme,
> >>
> >> ·         two support questions,
> >>
> >> ·         be prepared to be surprised,
> >>
> >> ·         time slots,
> >>
> >> ·         key to location of groups (Green = Large West Wing
> >> Conference Room, interior side / Brown = Large West Wing Conference
> >> Room, near windows / Red = Suite 700 Front Conference Room / Yellow
> =
> >> 630 Conference Room / Purple = 610 Conference Room)
> >>
> >> ·         group signs (Green, Brown, Red, Yellow, Purple), Newsroom
> >>
> >> Graphics of:
> >>
> >> ·         bumblebee,
> >>
> >> ·         butterfly,
> >>
> >> Supplies:
> >>
> >> ·         5 rolls of Masking tape,
> >>
> >> ·         50 markers,
> >>
> >> ·         5 flip charts,
> >>
> >> ·         construction paper (for the agenda topics),
> >>
> >> ·         Blank template for notetakers: Title of session,
> Convener,
> >> List of participants, Discussion and recommendations (printed and
> in
> >> electronic format)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Introduction of me by Senior Director of HR or Chief Operating
> Officer
> >> – TBD!  Should I give this person any talking points? Neither of
> them
> >> have participated in Open Space before.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> >> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Barry
> >> Owen
> >> Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 2:40 PM
> >> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> >> Subject: Re: [OSList] Anyone willing to offer feedback for a
> newbie?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Leslie,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Welcome back from the island!
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> I think this is the perfect place to put this forward for feedback
> -
> >> If you choose to do so off-line, I'm all ears
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Best,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> b
> >>
> >> On Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 1:20 PM, Leslie Zucker (Creative/DC)
> >> <LeslieZ at creativedc.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hello everyone,
> >>
> >> It’s been a few years since I was on this list and happy to have
> >> returned recently. I was stuck out on the dry, deserted island
> called
> >> “NoWillingnessToTryOpenSpace”.
> >>
> >> I’ve gotten off that island and am thankful to be back on the
> fertile
> >> land of Open Space.  With that said, I have never actually
> facilitated
> >> an Open Space myself, but have one on the calendar for December 2nd
> at
> >> my new job (of a week!)
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Is it appropriate to put out a draft of my invitation, schedule,
> >> theme, questions, etc. and ask for your feedback? If not, could I
> ask
> >> for a couple of volunteers whom I could write off –line asking for
> >> your thoughts?  Is there a better way to solicit a sounding board?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Many thanks for steering the newbie in the right direction,
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Leslie S. Zucker
> >>
> >> Training Manager
> >>
> >> Human Resources Division
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Creative Associates International
> >>
> >> 5301 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Suite 700
> >>
> >> Washington, DC 20015
> >>
> >> Office: 202-772-0022
> >>
> >> Fax:    202-363-1258
> >>
> >> Email:  LeslieZ at creativeDC.com
> >>
> >> Website Address:  www.creativeassociatesinternational.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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