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

[Harrison Owen]

Harold - my distaste for evaluation "forms" is such that I couldn't even
contribute to the conversation. At least in printable language. But I have
found  and used one easy way. At the start of the Closing Circle I
acknowledge the organizational needs for some form of evaluation, being
careful to smile so that I am not taken too seriously. I then ask each
person to think of a single word ("fantastic," "disaster," whatever) which
captures the experience for them. I give them a moment's reflection and then
take the microphone around the circle as quickly as I can, asking each
person to shout out their word. No speeches, explanations. just the word.
Duplicates are welcome (they indicate clusters of feelings) and the range is
typically rather awesome. In very short order a fabric of meaning emerges
which requires no comment or elaboration. And then it is on to the Close. It
probably disappoints some of the Data-Hounds, but I have never had a serious
complaints. And of course the comments in the closing circle tend to fill in
the details.  

 

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-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
[mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Harold Shinsato
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:45 PM
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Soliciting Open Space facilitation/organization
"feedback"

 

Michael, Lisa, Spark, Peggy,

Thank you for reinforcing my negative reaction to this one person's call for
a "formal feedback process" during the closing circle. It's not like any of
the chaorganizers are invisible and hidden. People are welcome to send us
feedback already, and many have both privately, in the closing circle, and
on facebook and twitter. At first I thought "no thanks, maybe next year",
then I thought I remembered JTM had a feedback form that I had filled out. I
thought, wow, if Peggy does it maybe it's worthwhile. (I hope I'm not a
Peggy groupie!)

I do like the idea of finding ways to get a *small* amount of feedback
around the food, the timing, the venue, and some of the other details made
around facilitation - but actually I think I already know the adjustments
needed. Perhaps the best thing I could do is sit down with the one person
who wanted a formal feedback process and do an Appreciative Inquiry
interview with him.

And maybe there's a more fun way to collect testimonials. I usually really
dislike survey forms almost as much as I dislike my annual tax forms. Thanks
for the cogent responses I can pass on to the others who helped facilitate
and host the event.

    Cheers!
    Harold

On 5/24/11 5:25 PM, Peggy Holman wrote: 

I like your questions, Michael.  They're similar to ones we've used for
Journalism That Matters.   

 

Frankly, I have little energy for feedback instruments.  My partners feel it
is important for briefing funders.  So I have helped to shape the questions
so that they mostly focus on what participants got out of the experience.
We don't get many responses.  And I still don't see much value in it.
Though it has been handy in responding to some foundation questions
specifically asking if we've done a post-event evaluation with participants.


 

Peggy

 

 

 

-- 
Harold Shinsato
harold at shinsato.com
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush> 

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