[OSList] Any experience with short OST

Sun Jun 10 14:48:39 PDT 2012

My Open Spaces are usually a day (though we have meet & greets & sunday
brunches to provide some wiggle room). They seem to work well. I was
recently asked to do a 6-hour open space for about 350 people in Chicago.
It went well - very well - but we had a LOT of time beforehand to prep the
people through online forums, etc, as well as a lot of participants who had
been to other open spaces.

That being said, with one or two exceptions, everyone there loved it. My
only frustration was with people who said "No, I didn't go, it just sounded
too disorganized." For some reason, the idea of something being
self-organizing is just anathema.

I think shorter OS's can work...but I would never want to do one shorter
than the 6 hours. Even that felt way too short. Good, but like a book that
you really wish didn't end...

Gray

On Sun, Jun 10, 2012 at 4:29 PM, Catherine Pfaehler
<c.pfaehler at bluewin.ch>wrote:

> ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
>
> I can only add that the only time I did such a short OST in order to
> demonstrate the methode did NOT lead to a client relationship. I’ve come to
> notice that even a 5.5 hr OS-event is too short. We deprive people of the
> experience of what it is like to have ENOUGH time for their thoughts and
> ideas and actions and projects to actually emerge if we agree to such short
> periods of time.****
>
> ** **
>
> Thank you for asking, Catherine C., and thank you for your answer, **
> Harrison**!****
>
> ** **
>
> Love, Catherine P.****
>
> ** **
>
> **Catherine Pfaehler******
>
> Burckhardtstrasse 2****
>
> CH - 3008 Bern****
>
> +41-(0)31-536 05 31****
>
> ** **
>  ------------------------------
>
> *Von:* Catherine Corbaz [mailto:cat.corbaz at gmail.com]
> *Gesendet:* Sonntag, 10. Juni 2012 19:20
> *An:* **World wide Open Space Technology email list**
> *Betreff:* Re: [OSList] Any experience with short OST****
>
> ** **
>
> Dear Harrison****
>
> of course I'll trust you. You put the right words on my inner feelings and
> gave me strong arguments to tell the sponsor, if needed. Your point to do
> do it after and let emerge an opened discussion, is a perfect idea.****
>
> ** **
>
> Thanks a lot,****
>
> ** **
>
> Catherine****
>
> ** **
>
> Le 10 juin 12 à 18:07, Harrison Owen a écrit :****
>
>
>
> ****
>
> Catherine – I know you have made your plans. And Plans can change. Here
> are some thoughts that might move the changes along… First – The best
> Presentation on Open Space is “Do it!” Nothing else comes even close.
> Second – Doing a Presentation about Open Space *before* an Open Space
> creates all sorts of difficulties, none of which you want. No matter what
> you say, no matter how good you are – whatever you say will just confuse
> people. If they have never experienced Open Space, they simply won’t
> believe you. And if they have had the experience, they don’t need the
> explanation. Even worse, a Presentation up front will inevitably put the
> people in a “head” mode, thinking about the process. They will be wondering
> about other processes, potential modifications, what “they” say in the
> literature. All good thoughts, but definitely not needed at the onset of an
> Open Space. Just get on with the business, do what comes naturally, and
> forget about the process. After all it works all by itself. No help needed.
> And don’t try doing “just a little bit of Open Space” It is always
> frustrating, because just about the time you get rolling, it is time to
> stop. If these people really want to Celebrate – Go for it and make sure
> they have plenty of time/space for the occasion!********
>
> ** ******
>
> And then if they really want a Presentation, do it at the end. I assume
> you will have a closing circle and after the people have shared their
> comments, ask them by way of summary “What did you notice particularly
> about our time together that was strange, new, surprising, different? I
> think you will find that the People as a whole will create a marvelous
> presentation, and of course you can comment if you care to.********
>
> ** ******
>
> Trust me. You won’t be disappointed.********
>
> ** ******
>
> **Harrison**********
>
> ** ******
>
> Harrison Owen********
>
> ****7808 River Falls Dr****.********
>
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>
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> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [
> mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org<oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org>
> ] *On Behalf Of *Catherine Corbaz
> *Sent:* Sunday, June 10, 2012 11:31 AM
> *To:* World email list wide Open Space Technology
> *Subject:* [OSList] Any experience with short OST********
>   **
>
>  ****
> **
>
> Dear OS-friends,********
>
> I’ve been invited to moderate an OST for the 10th birthday of a studying
> program of a high Engineering and business school. It is called Human
> System engineering.********
>
> The purpose is to celebrate the anniversary and to make an OST in order to
> collect ideas, projects of the students to allow this program to live
> further. The purpose is also to present OST as a method to work with
> collective intelligence , etc. Inviter people will be students and old
> students, the professorship will also be invited. ********
>
>  ********
>
> At the beginning we spoke of a one day OST. After a first meeting with the
> preparation group, they proposed me to do something shorter, with a
> presentation about OST. I agreed with their suggestion. But i'll make my
> presentation as short as possible, with the message: the best presentation
> is to experiment it.  So I might have 1/2 more, who knows?********
>
>  ********
>
> But i've never do such a short OST. So presently the agenda (in may head)
> look like:********
>
> ** ******
>
> - a short introduction (sponsor + OST introduction : 15’), ****
> ****
>
> - Market place&agenda (15’). ****
> ****
>
> - Two break-out sessions of 35 min. ****
> ****
>
> - closing circle (20') ********
>
>  ********
>
> We expect 30-50 people.********
>
>  ********
>
> Anyone with a similar experience. I remender reading something about a 1.5
> hours OST?********
>
> Any comment, remark, welcome.********
>
> ** ******
>
> NB: this OST is a short of follow-up of the french publication of
> Christine Kohler. ********
>
> ** ******
>
> Regards********
>
> ** ******
>
> Catherine Corbaz********
>
> Roseaux 20********
>
> CH-2503 **Bienne**********
>
> +41 32 323 38 43********
>
> +41 79 794 38 55********
>
> https://sites.google.com/site/catherinecorbaz/********
>
> ** ******
>
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