[OSList] bridging two OS conferences

[Lisa Heft]

Hi, Thomas!

I've also done this for a worldwide organization meeting two separate  
times in two different parts of the world so every employee could  
attend.

We collected their documentation into a single Book of Proceedings and  
gave them the Book a week or so after the event, so that the second  
group would actually *not* see the first part. This client, very well  
versed in Open Space, felt the second group would be much more free  
and diverse in their thinking if they did not see what issues came up  
in the first group. They would just do what they did, without (as some  
people might have) thinking about *needing* to link it with anything  
done prior. This company also did (and beautifully supported) the re- 
opening space form of action planning. Then a combined Book, and time  
for everyone to read it, integrate the information, before meeting in  
their various groups to see patterns in what was articulated and  
created across the two meetings. Which was very helpful.

Part of the lovely client's ability to actually invite the re-opening  
of space action planning was that he (before the action plans groups  
were announced / before they went into session) created infrastructure  
to support any action that might be named, plus a top-level manager  
whose job it was to champion the action plan initiators (what  
resources do they need, how to help them continue working outside  
their organizational role, what resources do they need, bringing them  
in to report on ongoing progress to executive manager meetings and to  
quarterly all-staff 'town hall' meetings, and so on. So the actions  
did not disappear because of an employee's lack of support, lack of  
freedom or mobility, need to identify resources and challenges... And  
so the full system kept being stimulated by messaging about how the  
ideas and relationships originated at the two events were coming along.

Of course any of the ways we each are sharing about it - all of those  
ways could work.
For me it would come down to the context, culture, physical  
environment and capacity of the organization...

I picture you on your motorbike - a lovely image in my mind indeed...

Lisa

>
>
> On 08/15/2013 4:53 am, Thomas Herrmann wrote:
>
>> Sounds like an intereting way to do it…maybe the next step for this  
>> place!
>> At this stage it's a little late to go that direction so we will  
>> have to figure out the smoothest way to integrate the two. We will  
>> be at a conference site away from the hospital this time.
>>
>> I am thinking of leaving the reports from the 1st OST posted on a  
>> space where participants in the second OST can go to look and have  
>> inspiration. I have not planned to dedicate any specific time for  
>> this but just have it as an opportunity. Then there is the full  
>> report from the first day which will be produced as a PDF file a  
>> day before the next group will go into Open Space… I haven't made  
>> up my mind but what do you think about sending it out to the group  
>> heading into OST - or not? Maybe that would be a bit too  
>> overwhelming?
>>
>> I also am thinking about the action planning for the second event.  
>> Then we will probably already have some action plans. I will use  
>> the re-opening approach where people make an agenda for action  
>> planning. So my idea is that people can choose, either bring up a  
>> new action or continue to work on one of the action plans already  
>> in place…
>>
>> Then, of course we are having a follow up meeting in a couple of  
>> weeks time, where the leadership team and sponsors of action plans  
>> come together to continue the work.
>>
>> I have a tele meeting with the leadership this afternoon, so I'll  
>> ask them what they think about it.
>>
>> Still glad for any more ideas from you guys
>> Cheers
>> Thomas (heading to Norway on my motorbike on Sunday for a 3-day OST  
>> training in Oslo - then on to NOSonOS in Ålesund. A brake for these  
>> OST conferences in Sweden, than fly back to drive my motorbike  
>> along the fjords of Norway….not complaining about life (-: !!)
>>
>>

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