[OSList] Conversation today with Brian Burt of MaestroConference

Koos de Heer koos at auryn.nl
Wed Aug 29 12:46:03 PDT 2012


Hi Suzanne:

Yes, a rotating thing would be great, that would 
be a great way to deal with time zones. And it 
would not only cater for time zones, but also for different sleep/wake rythms.

If you work with consecutive openings for 
different time zones, you could also have a 
recording ready of the most recent opening (or 
maybe all of them) that you could view before you 
enter the live conference, so you have an idea of 
what is going on and what the sesions are.

I agree with you that a combination of visual 
marketplace and spoken topics would be great. I 
will do some more thinking of this visualization 
- it feels like a real challenge to create this 
and on the one hand putting all the information 
on the screen and on the other hand not making a mess of the screen interface.

Question to Brian: are we also thinking video 
connections here? For how many participants? I 
guess this would be an enormous task for the 
central system in terms of bandwith and 
processing power. At the same time it would add a lot to the experience.

Suddenly, I am thinking that in some way, we 
already have it. What we are doing here and now 
in this conversation (and others on this list) is 
an Open Space across time zones already. Through 
email - one of the oldest internet applications. It can be that simple...

Koos

At 21:17 29-8-2012, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
>Just jumping in after a quick read. This truly 
>is exciting to imagine.  Yes I agree with the 
>compressed time frame (or time frames) and the 
>dynamite energy it creates.  Considering the 
>different time zones, an event could be designed 
>such that space could be opened in a rotating 
>schedule twice or three times with a host(s) and 
>facilitator(s) opening the space in the 
>traditional way in different parts of the world 
>as if a continuous event over a 24 or 48 hour 
>period. Breakout groups could be scheduled in 
>the traditional way.  I can just imagine people 
>from around the world joining in at different times. Lots of bumble beeing.
>
>Love having participants announcing their topics 
>which is what we did with our adapted Global 
>Conversation version of Open Space last 
>November.  Hearing people's voices from around 
>the world announcing their topics and saying 
>their names was truly magical, even more so 
>because many attendees had never participated in 
>a global event, had never experienced an Open 
>Space and in some cases, never even been on a conference call.
>Everything happened relatively fast though it 
>would have been so much better to have a visual 
>marketplace wall as people spoke their topics.
>
>Suzanne
>
>
>
>
>
>
>On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 12:57 PM, Koos de Heer 
><<mailto:koos at auryn.nl>koos at auryn.nl> wrote:
>Hi Michael!
>
>Good start! I can see that happening. At the 
>same time, I wonder how far I would want to go 
>with this stretched space-time thing. Open Space 
>- in my experience - often has the character of 
>a pressure cooker. A lot gets done in a short 
>time and that is not only a great result in the 
>end, but it also means a lot during the event. 
>Already while the event is progressing, people 
>say things like: something is really happening 
>here! And they're thrilled to be a part of it 
>and it increases the level of their 
>contribution. Which in turn inspires and stimulates others as well.
>
>If you take out the element of limited time, I 
>think you might lose this dynamic. Of course you 
>can also go too far in the limiting of time. I 
>once took part in an Open Space Online meeting 
>where the time limit was enforced a little too 
>strictly. This was back in the early days. When 
>the time slot for a session ended, all the 
>participants were kicked out of the session and 
>the session was closed by the system. There was 
>no "when it is over, it is over." It was more 
>like: "It is over when the clock says it is 
>over." So I would let the participants in a 
>break out group deciede whether they are done or 
>not. And I would make it very easy for all the 
>participants to see at what time the other sessions will start.
>
>That is the nice thing about this technology. 
>You don't have to walk over to the plenary room 
>to go look at the agenda. You can have a side 
>bar on your screen showing the sessions that are 
>about to start, sorted by start time. You could 
>even list the sessions there that are already 
>running, to facilitate bumble beeing.
>
>To get back to Brian's questions: what we need 
>to think about is how you are going to announce 
>the topics. With online technology like this, 
>you can easily let everyone post their session 
>topics online and let them choose a time slot. 
>The number of break out spaces is much more 
>flexible than in a real building. But how do you 
>get people to listen to the other topics that 
>are listed and how do you get the topics spread 
>out in time evenly? Not that you have to, but if 
>all the sessions are at the beginning, the 
>participants will be stretched really thin. And 
>later on in the meeting there will not be many 
>interesting sessions any more because all the 
>good stuff was right at the start. I think I 
>would like some sort of structure where those 
>people who want to announce a topic have to line 
>up for the microphone and they announce their 
>topic to the entire audience one by one. Or is 
>that too rigid? In a real meeting, you see 
>people writing their topics and choosing time 
>slots etc. If you are just waiting for your turn 
>behind your computer, it can become quite lonely 
>and boring. We would have to find a way to 
>visualize what is going on. Like when you choose 
>a time, you can see how many sessions there 
>already are at each available start time. You 
>could also have a visualization of the agenda 
>wall that you see growing as sessions are added. 
>And maybe an icon of a pen and paper next to 
>someone's name if that person is in the process of entering a topic.
>
>Something to think about in the whole thing is 
>what you would want to do by audio and what by 
>typing or clicking ( not to speak of drawing and 
>sharing what's on your screen). I am sure the 
>folks at Maestro have some ideas about that 
>already. But that was not the question at this point...
>
>This is really fun to play with!
>
>Koos
>
>
>At 15:09 29-8-2012, Michael Herman wrote:
>logistics of topics and schedule...  first thoughts...
>
>i think it might work pretty much like it does when we're face to
>face.  there's one big group, a short briefing, and then a chance for
>anyone in the large group to post their name/topic.  i think there
>might be a host-designated grid of posting times, same as some people
>have done in the f2f meetings.
>
>now, the interesting wrinkle in what you're providing, brian, is that
>when we're not all in the same place and time, boxed in by plane
>rides, then the schedule grid could be set up to span days or weeks or
>even an ongoing series of conversations that don't end until the work
>does.  so the host-set starting grid might be one session long, today,
>or might stretch out indefinitely.
>
>so in this way, the "opening" is the session where this all gets
>briefed, oriented, trained, and set up, and then there is one or more
>breakouts.  in this way, future plenary sessions like evening and
>morning news sessions might still be evening and morning, or they
>might be week 1 news, week 2 news... or they might be january news or
>quarterly news.... but they'd all be able to be scheduled and take
>place in the same way any and all breakouts happen.  it might be good
>practice and worth prompting the host at set up to set one or more
>plenary times.  it might be set that no other sessions could be
>scheduled at those times, or that might be left for informal agreement
>within the group.  maybe it's a check box option for the host when
>setting those times.
>
>so there's an opening session.  where there is posting and announcing
>of sessions.  then breakouts which are a multiplication of the first
>session, with some sort of posting wall to support it.  there are
>specialized breakouts marked as plenaries.  and finally, a specialized
>plenary, marked as closing.  and while we're specializing, i wonder if
>being able to specify something like a "sub-theme" or "track" or maybe
>better a "stream" might allow for wider use and cross-pollination
>among projects or departments or other more fixed areas of focus, over
>the longer term, so that several open space streams in one group or
>organization might be flowing through the same schedule grid.  this
>might also support longer term complex projects in giving one layer of
>description between the main theme and the individual breakouts.
>
>this brings us to the point of taking notes, but that's beyond your
>question, i think.  <grin>
>
>one more thing... backing up a bit, brian... it might be helpful for
>people on the list here, who might be thinking about this and wanting
>to help, to hear from you a short description of what maestro
>conference provides now.  it's there in the website, on different
>pages and customer focused, but it'd be good to have even 3-5
>sentences that describes it from a functional perspective, "this is
>what it does now" sort of thing.
>
>m
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>
>Michael Herman
>Michael Herman Associates
><tel:312-280-7838>312-280-7838 (mobile)
>
><http://MichaelHerman.com>http://MichaelHerman.com
>http://ManorNeighbors.com
><http://OpenSpaceWorld.org>http://OpenSpaceWorld.org
>
>
>
>
>On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 4:12 AM, Brian Burt 
><<mailto:brian.burt at gmail.com>brian.burt at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Thanks Harold.
> >
> >> I think if they would allow people to move themselves by some simple
> >> interface into the different rooms
> >
> > We definitely have that in mind and so appreciate people contributing with
> > hearts and minds
> >
> > Harold & All: How would you see the initial segment of collectively
> > brainstorming/proposing topics and landing on a schedule, especially with
> > hundreds (or more) of participants?  (pardon my ignorance of the terms)
> >
> > We'll be digging in later but I welcome more thoughts.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > On Aug 24, 2012 9:38 PM, "Harold Shinsato" 
> <<mailto:harold at shinsato.com>harold at shinsato.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi Suzanne,
> >>
> >> Thanks for pursuing this possibility with Maestro. I think I gave some
> >> input about this earlier. I find that the model that I experienced of
> >> Maestro conference was that it was optimized 
> for people giving workshops who
> >> would then control the breakout groups.
> >>
> >> For Open Space, it doesn't seem to work well to put this decision making
> >> process into the hands of the facilitator. It loses the self-organizing
> >> feel.
> >>
> >> I think if they would allow people to move themselves by some simple
> >> interface into the different rooms - either with a web interface or by
> >> pressing numbers on the phone (like many people know to press *6 to mute
> >> themselves, something like *9 could give a 
> prompt to ask for a room number)
> >> - you could cheaply and easily get the feeling of open space. Though I'd
> >> suggest having some experiments and then adjusting based on findings.
> >>
> >> I agree with Koos - the simpler the better. I also wonder if there is a
> >> "google hangout" method that could be used 
> to combine voice and video. Could
> >> this be done already? How do you compete with free? In any case, please
> >> include me on the list of people interested. Thanks!
> >>
> >>     Regards,
> >>     Harold
> >>
> >>
> >> On 8/24/12 12:53 PM, Suzanne Daigle wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Hi Everyone,
> >>>
> >>> Thanks for being so responsive, brimming with ideas and information, love
> >>> the skepticism too!  It is so cool to learn about the work that has been
> >>> done over the years to develop an on-line 
> virtual experience of Open Space.
> >>>
> >>> Brian Curt is on this list so he will be seeing these emails in real
> >>> time. I'm guessing others at MaestroConference may also be monitoring.
> >>>
> >>> Definitely we're not starting from scratch --much has been done and when
> >>> you add the powerful and unique features of MaestroConference with their
> >>> strategic vision to optimize their 
> technology for Open Space, it gets even
> >>> more exciting. We may have the makings for something pretty darn great,
> >>> taking us, step by step, to the next level 
> and bringing more Open Space to
> >>> the world -- a blend of  face-to-face and enhanced virtual.
> >>>
> >>> I don't know what y'all think and I don't mind tracking the names.  At
> >>> this "emergent" stage of the game, it would 
> be wonderful if people continued
> >>> commenting as posts appear, sharing their 
> thoughts and ideas. People could
> >>> also suggest who else should be part of these discussions. I know the
> >>> Agile/Scrum Technology community are very invested and aligned with Open
> >>> Space. Many OS trailblazers in that community for sure!
> >>>
> >>> It  might get chaotic, messy and a bit confusing. Yet if we keep the
> >>> conversations going, vibrant and chock-full of ideas and information, it
> >>> should lead to a dynamic theme and invitation for the MaestroConference
> >>> Virtual Open Visioning Event planned for 
> the early Fall. No doubt we would
> >>> have a packed house and we'd certainly be 
> getting a good headstart on things
> >>> while managing expectations knowing that we probably won't get this right
> >>> immediately.
> >>>
> >>> On my end, I just wanted to clarify the bit that I am doing -- being an
> >>> equal with all of you, highly receptive to what MaestroConference may be
> >>> envisioning,  keeping a list of names, "being prepared to be surprised",
> >>> doing less rather than more, and leaving lots of room for OS folks to
> >>> self-organize and share leadership on this wonderful project wherever it
> >>> leads.
> >>>
> >>> Suzanne
> >>>
> >>> P.S.  Brian and others at MaestroConference if you reading this, please
> >>> check out WOSonOS London (the annual World Open Space on Open Space is in
> >>> England this year) from October 11th to the 
> 14th. (thanks Spark!)  We would
> >>> love to see you!  Many seasoned Open Space practitioners attending from
> >>> across the globe.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Fri, Aug 24, 2012 at 12:08 PM, Thomas Herrmann
> >>> 
> <<mailto:thomas at openspaceconsulting.com>thomas at openspaceconsulting.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Hi Suzanne
> >>>>
> >>>> Great idea!
> >>>>
> >>>> I have done quite a lot of virtual facilitation the last years and have
> >>>> found a software that gives most of the possibilities that I think are
> >>>> needed ­ even if I have only used it with 
> quite small groups. Several of the
> >>>> people in the Genuine Contact community use it ­ Blackboard Collaborate.
> >>>> After testing many many available software we found this which suits the
> >>>> needs for participative meetings incl Open Space, very well incl
> >>>> reliability.
> >>>>
> >>>> I am willing to share some of my experiences down the line.
> >>>>
> >>>> Hugs
> >>>>
> >>>> Thomas Herrmann
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Från: 
> <mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org
> >>>> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] För Suzanne Daigle
> >>>> Skickat: den 24 augusti 2012 04:50
> >>>> Till: World wide Open Space Technology email list
> >>>> Ämne: [OSList] Conversation today with Brian Burt of MaestroConference
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Exciting to imagine! A virtual interface specifically geared to Open
> >>>> Space. Brian Burt, CEO and Founder of 
> MaestroConference, and I were on the
> >>>> phone for about 30 minutes this 
> afternoon.  It was a “jump right in” kinda
> >>>> conversation with lots of give and take.  No doubt about it,
> >>>> MaestroConference has been giving this 
> some thought and Brian Burt knows the
> >>>> process, principles and language of Open Space.
> >>>>
> >>>> In some cases their technology is there and stuff could happen right
> >>>> away; other things need to be figured out and then of course, you can’t
> >>>> totally replicate an in-person experience 
> of Open Space so a hybrid virtual
> >>>> adaptation would need to be developed.
> >>>>
> >>>> We talked about the big picture of a Virtual Open Space Social Webinar
> >>>> platform that would allow hundreds and even thousands of people to
> >>>> participate. We also discussed some of the 
> challenges; for example: “can you
> >>>> really have a virtual conversation with 50 people on-line engaged in one
> >>>> topic or would we need to break into smaller groups” and “how could we
> >>>> manage a post-it board with time and place”.
> >>>>
> >>>> Brian’s plan, along with other folks at Maestro Conference, is to host a
> >>>> Virtual Open Visioning Event this Fall 
> inviting lots of people (it would be
> >>>> terrific if many joined) from the Open Space community and folks in the
> >>>> technology world (major users of Open Space) to engage in working
> >>>> conversations around the interface, the 
> implementation, the applications of
> >>>> where and how a virtual OS could be used, 
> the invitation process and so much
> >>>> more.
> >>>>
> >>>> What I was able to convey to Brian is that there are many practitioners
> >>>> in this worldwide OS community, including the OSI US Board, who are
> >>>> interested and excited about having a 
> virtual Open Space platform. I’ll be
> >>>> the first to say that I’m not the expert 
> (nor the leader) in that regard but
> >>>> I certainly have the passion and am willing to roll up my sleeves with
> >>>> others to help make it happen.
> >>>>
> >>>> At Brian’s request, I’ve agreed to lend a hand if people want to advise
> >>>> off list that they are interested, feel 
> free to email me. You can also do it
> >>>> publicly on the OS list and I’ll keep track. MaestroConference is also
> >>>> interested in knowing if anyone has people 
> they’d recommend who should be
> >>>> invited to the Fall Event.
> >>>>
> >>>> In anticipation of the Virtual Open Visioning Event being planned,
> >>>> perhaps we can continue the conversations on our OS list sharing what we
> >>>> would hope to see, what questions we have, 
> how we may want to contribute to
> >>>> this  effort. My specific interest related to the virtual technology is
> >>>> having the ability to host post-events after a face-to-face Open Space,
> >>>> continuing the conversations and driving 
> some of the actions and initiatives
> >>>> that participants identified.
> >>>>
> >>>> An early Call to Action that may help Maestro Conference in their
> >>>> planning! What do y'all think?
> >>>>
> >>>> Suzanne
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Suzanne Daigle
> >>>> NuFocus Strategic Group
> >>>> 7159 Victoria Circle
> >>>> University Park, FL 34201
> >>>> FL <tel:941-359-8877>941-359-8877;
> >>>> CT <tel:203-722-2009>203-722-2009
> >>>> <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>www.nufocusgroup.com
> >>>> <mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com>s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
> >>>> twitter @suzannedaigle
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Suzanne Daigle
> >>> NuFocus Strategic Group
> >>> 7159 Victoria Circle
> >>> University Park, FL 34201
> >>> FL <tel:941-359-8877>941-359-8877;
> >>> CT <tel:203-722-2009>203-722-2009
> >>> <http://www.nufocusgroup.com>www.nufocusgroup.com
> >>> <mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com>s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
> >>> twitter @suzannedaigle
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Harold Shinsato
> >> <mailto:harold at shinsato.com>harold at shinsato.com
> >> http://shinsato.com
> >> twitter: @hajush
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
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>--
>Suzanne Daigle
>NuFocus Strategic Group
>7159 Victoria Circle
>University Park, FL 34201
>FL 941-359-8877;
>CT 203-722-2009
><http://www.nufocusgroup.com>www.nufocusgroup.com
><mailto:s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com>s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
>twitter @suzannedaigle
>
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