[OSList] two locations at once?

[Jeff Aitken]

Jen, a question about theme and intention...

does developing the "we" (rather than "us & them") mean deepening
connections among IT staff in the different campus locations? i wonder
if these events are the first in what might unfold into
cross-pollinating OST events bringing people together from the
different locations.

for these first events, i have the image of a skype or other live link
from one location to the other... so that the opening circles could
see each other, and the closing circles see each other... not so much
to share detailed information, but mostly to share energy - like a big
wave hello at the start, and a collective cheer at the end... so
people might feel like they are working together on the same task, in
their different locations. And with the knowledge that the combined
book of proceedings would be available to everyone.

i'm also curious about the theme itself. would people be responding to
a question like "what are the issues and opportunities for creating a
'we' culture in IT at the university?" or might there be another
question, the responses to which could help foster a 'we' culture as
an outcome... I imagine finding a bridging question that honors the
burning issues facing IT folks, and in the conversations their shared
values and concerns are surfaced and conversed about.

just some thoughts.

Jeff




On Fri, Dec 21, 2012 at 7:56 PM, Lisa Heft <lisaheft at openingspace.net> wrote:
> I completely agree with Jeff.
> I have done similar events and if it is useful to the group, you can put
> both events' notes into a combined Book of Proceedings for distribution back
> out to the participants post-event.
> Maximize the time people can spend creating their agenda, in their sessions,
> in their reflection...
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 21, 2012, at 6:33 PM, Jeff Aitken wrote:
>
> Hi Jen,
>
> Thanks for putting this out to the list. I'm sure you will get lots of
> warm appreciations and suggestions.
>
> Let me dive right in, and I look forward to the ideas of others. I've
> facilitated many short OST events of 2-4 hours, which are on the very
> short end of the OST spectrum as you know.
>
> I am going to suggest that the connections between the events take
> place after the event and not during. My reasoning is that the event
> is fairly short in duration, and it will be most useful to support the
> people in the room to connect with one another in person, rather than
> try to also include others offsite.
>
> If I can offer ideas about the agenda design, it would be to use the
> time available to maximize the open space opportunity, especially for
> several hundred people.
>
> Get right to work, lengthen the session times, and have a more
> leisurely closing. For example you might start with a short welcome
> and agenda creation at 12:30, have a 60 minute session start at 1:15
> and another 60 minute session at 2:15 pm. Then at 3:15 you would have
> 45 minutes for closure. (Unless you are able to stretch the length of
> the event even more...)
>
> This would allow a big group of people a bit more time to move from
> session to session and to gather again for closing. Especially in open
> space, inviting a lot of people to move from place to place requires
> some time, and can't be very precise. The appetizers could be
> available for noshing during the opening and the sessions, hopefully
> in the central space.
>
> Another suggestion is to use the closing time for people to share
> their experiences face to face, rather than reading session notes and
> then having a short feedback period. Because you are inviting a "we"
> culture into being, each opportunity for people to experience the "we"
> that they are will help to plant and nurture that seed. The ideas that
> are captured on flip charts can be transcribed and shared afterward
> online among all participants, and you can design a way for
> interaction and followup.
>
> The actual design of the closing I suggest would involve people in
> shared reflection hearing one another's voices, tho I won't offer more
> specific ideas right now.
>
> Thanks again for sharing and being on the list... looking forward to
> the ongoing conversation about this work.
>
> Jeff
> San Francisco
>
>
>
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