[OSList] Soliciting Open Space facilitation/organization "feedback"

[Lisa Heft]

Great questions, Harold.

So whenever someone wants to solicit feedback, or do evaluation - we  
typically have a conversation about what is it they would like to  
measure - as I explain to them what the process delivers and what the  
timing is for dialogue, receiving the Book of Proceedings (often a  
week or so post-event for specific reasons), and we also talk about  
how the brain works (action, reflection, integration of thinking,  
clustering of information).

Because otherwise they tend to measure what one does for a presenter- 
lecturer or a physical project: what knowledge the 'expert' had on the  
subject, did they (the 'expert' / lecturer) provide notes -  
traditional-meeting things like that.  I remind them that the success  
of the event will not be 'was Lisa a fabulous facilitator' but more of  
a focus on the participants themselves.

I share with them what data will already come out of the Open Space -  
a full Book of Proceedings as a narrative to look through for  
patterns, thoughts, feelings - which for me also includes the verbatim  
notes of what people said in their Closing Circle comments and  
reflections. Sometimes that is not just all they need - it is more  
than they ever hoped for -and- in the participants' words. So they  
love it.

If there are further things to invite feedback or to evaluate in other  
ways - what are those things?
For example, we know that impact on *behavior* (what did you change or  
feel as a result of this event) is a hard thing to measure - because  
everything else in the constellation of someone's life affects those  
shifts or decisions as well. One's peer norms, one's environment, the  
other things that happen around one, one's freedom to make the  
changes, a million things.
So sometimes it is interesting to not do quite an evaluation, but to  
offer participants a way to name to themselves what they would like to  
be or do or change in their own ways and lives. For example, they  
write one or two of these thing on a post card before Closing Circle  
begins - you scribe all those (perhaps the evaluators or meeting hosts  
would like to see that for measurement or reflection) - then you mail  
those cards back to the participants in three months (or whatever) as  
their own reminder to self in their own words.

If one is to measure the effectiveness or success of an idea or  
project that came out of the OS event - so many things affect that as  
well - resources, ability to continue working outside one's  
organizational role, support from management, freedom to act,  
communication and feedback with other teams and individuals about this  
and other projects, and so on. Again - a harder thing to measure.

If it is feedback on the process, that often comes out of the Closing  
Circle comments and reflections.
Feedback on the food? Be careful what you ask for - people are VERY  
passionate about this. But / and in Open Space usually there is  
constant food so they LOVE that.

It looks like among the other things Journalism That Matters wanted to  
measure / receive feedback on was very specific resource issues - a  
great idea - about housing, access, and so on - so they can improve  
and stay responsive to all that.

It also looks like they asked people to illustrate their 'high points'  
- perhaps this is useful for excerpting quotes for the invitation  
process to / description of the next event.
All very useful for their continuing series of events and growing  
their learning community ongoing.
I look forward to hearing from Peggy more of the thoughts behind their  
survey.

So again: It all depends on what you need to measure, why, what you  
will be using the data for and so on - that informs not just the  
evaluation design but - as this discussion can I hope happen in the  
Pre-Work stage - inform development of tools and mechanisms for post- 
event / between-a-series-of-events needs as well as improved access,  
resources for participants and more.  Or again: sometimes it is not  
needed because the Book of Proceedings and Closing Circle comments  
answer the questions the organizers or evaluators wonder about.

I like the idea of doing Appreciative Inquiry-style explorations.
I even more like taking groups through a Focused Conversation  
(Institute of Cultural Affairs / Technology of Participation method).  
Because it can take people back through their body memory of an  
experience before they get to the thoughts and recommendations part.  
That might be so very great for a post-event survey as it would at the  
same time provide participants with a reflective tool.

If - that is - it is not 'one more thing' to add on. I'm all about  
knowing why and to what end we do things when we work with groups...

What do others think?

Lisa


Lisa Heft
Consultant, Facilitator, Educator
Opening Space
lisaheft at openingspace.net

  
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