[OSList] Space. Wonderful Space!
Michael M Pannwitz
mmpanne at boscop.org
Wed Feb 1 14:02:02 PST 2012
Dear Diane,
in German, topic is "Thema"... which is nowhere near "an issue for which
I have a passion and am definitely going to do something about"...so in
Germany, I speak of "Anliegen" (which, broadly speaking, might translate
into "something thats very close to me and I need to take care of").
This seems to help a bit in making the difference between os and
brainstorming.
Using the words "issue" instead of topic and "Anliegen" instead of Thema
also seems to go beyond "announcing" something, its much more
powerful... especially when you state your name when putting your issue
into the void (if I remember right, in brainstorming people dont say
their names when they toss in an idea).
My hunch is that the words I use in my work with OST transmits something
about what is characteristic to OST... of course, stories are also great
and powerful...
cheers
mmp
On 01.02.2012 22:37, Diane Gibeault wrote:
> Hi Harrison,
> This piece is very useful. If there is one thing people often associate
> OS with when trying to describe it it's brainstorming.
>
> Many see a connection between throwing out ideas without order and the
> OS announcement of topics and the look of chaos at the market place.
> They miss a very important distinction. In OS topics are well thought
> out and are anchored in passion and the biggest distinction of all I
> think: they are tied to responsibility.
>
> The research on the effectiveness - or lack of - of these two methods
> and the similarity in the success factors of the Building 20 method and
> Open Space can be just the nudge that some sponsors need to get out of
> their comfort zone and make the leap.
>
> Thanks for this nugget Harrison,
> Diane
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *From:* Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net>
> *To:* 'World wide Open Space Technology email list'
> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:54:51 AM
> *Subject:* [OSList] Space. Wonderful Space!
>
> Our continuing conversation about Charrettes, space and architects
> coalesced in my mind (and reading) with an article from The New
> Yorker, entitled /GroupThink: The brainstorming myth/. The tale is a
> little shaggy, but goes straight to the heart multiple discussions
> we have had over the years about space, it’s quality and uses. The
> author, Jonah Lehrer, starts out talking about brainstorming, that
> hoary method created by Alex Osborn in the late forties. The method
> is a simple one. Given an issue of concern (advertizing campaign,
> new product, etc) people sit around and shout out ideas as fast as
> they can. The only rule is that there be no criticism. Just let the
> ideas roll. Sounds wonderful, and the presumption was that all sorts
> of juicy, creative ideas would spring forth. In fact “brainstorming”
> and creativity have almost become synonymous in some circles. The
> only problem, according to Jonah, is that just isn’t so. After a
> rather extensive review of the Creativity Literature, brainstorming
> came in pretty much dead last. It turns out that other factors (not
> a lack of criticism) enhance the creative output, including such
> things as diversity of opinion, random associations, lack of a plan,
> multiple interest groups, etc – and perhaps most important a space
> that permits and encourages all of that. “Space” here is not just
> physical space, but would include cyberspace, intellectual space –
> but at the end of the day, at least for Jonah, physical space (as in
> buildings) is what he concentrates on. One might presume that the
> best of such physical space would be elegant, clean, rationally
> organized, well provisioned, carefully planned etc. But it turns out
> that the “winner-take-all” structure was an anomalous monstrosity
> known a Building 20.
> Building 20 was built on the M.I.T campus during World War II to
> house a major (and secret) research project. It was huge and
> literally thrown together in weeks – all plywood with few amenities.
> Supposedly it was to have been torn down at the war’s end but
> returning students and rapid growth left the University hungry for
> any sort of space. And so a motley assortment of people and
> departments were consigned to the monster. The initial reaction was
> doubtless less than positive – but it turned out the Building 20 had
> major advantages. Because there was no rational plan, people went
> everywhere, bumping into each other, wandering through other
> departments, talking to each other regardless of departmental
> affiliation... And because the walls were plywood, they could be
> moved, torn down, rearranged – Total chaos!
> Jonah’s concluding paragraphs are marvelous, I think…
> “Building 20 and brainstorming came into being at almost the same
> time. In the sixty years since then, if the studies are right,
> brainstorming has achieved nothing – or at least less than would
> have been achieved by 6 decade’s worth of brainstormers working
> quietly on their own. Building 20, , though, ranks as one of the
> most creative environments of all times, a space with almost uncanny
> ability to extract the best from people. Among M.I.T. people it was
> referred to as the “magical incubator.”
> The fatal misconception behind brainstorming is that there is a
> particular script we should all follow in group interactions. The
> lessons of Building 20 is that when the composition of the groups is
> right – enough people with different perspectives running into one
> another in unpredictable ways – the group dynamic will take care of
> itself. All these errant discussions add up. In fact they may even
> be the most essential part of the creative process. Although such
> conversations are occasionally unpleasant – not everybody is always
> in the mood for small talk and criticism – that doesn’t mean they
> can be avoided. The most creative spaces are those which hurl us
> together. It is the human friction that makes the sparks.”
> I particularly like, “The lessons of Building 20 is that when the
> composition of the groups is right – enough people with different
> perspectives running into one another in unpredictable ways– the
> group dynamic will take care of itself.” Sounds a lot like our
> learnings from Open Space, and had he used the magic words,
> “self-organizing” my day would have truly been made. But he surely
> came close, noting that “the group dynamic will take care of
> itself.” And had he cited the 5^th Principle (Wherever it happens is
> the right place) – Wow! But he surely did good!!
> You can read all about it yourself: “GroupThink: The brainstorming
> myth,” Jonah Lehrer, The New Yorker, January 30, 2012, pg 22ff
> Harrison
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> USA
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)
> Camden, Maine 20854
> Phone 301-365-2093
> (summer) 207-763-3261
> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com>
> www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com> (Personal Website)
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> OSLIST Go
> to:http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> <mailto:OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org>
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
--
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org www.boscop.org
Check out the Open Space World Map presently showing 417 resident Open
Space Workers in 67 countries working in a total of 142 countries
worldwide: www.openspaceworldmap.org
More information about the OSList
mailing list