[OSList] The Open Agile Adoption story

Fri Jul 26 01:09:53 PDT 2013

Dear Dan (and Harold),

Like WOW, wow, and wow! Thank you for bursting on the scene Dan...and
Harold thank you for your "blow my socks" response.

And Dan the answer is yes, yes and yes to your request!

Here's why even though I still somewhat feel I don't know what I'm talking
about when it comes to Agile and Scrum -- as the non technology person. Yet
I am drawn, have been drawn since attending a Scrum Alliance conference in
Orlando in 2010 that Harrison facilitated which then led to my own "blow my
socks" Open Space that I facilitated on Scrum BEYOND Software in Phoenix
that year, something that I felt passionately about which never left me to
this day!

Dan you have provided a LOT of information, a LOT of food for thought.  I
have not even started reading through it all; some I know quite intimately,
the "Gallup engagement" stuff, and Harrison's Spirit book which moved me
even more or as much as his Open Space Technology User's guide and Wave
Rider. And then more recently I have had the great joy of reading your book
*The Culture Game* which has started to answer my big craving to expose and
invite clients to adopt "the practices" of Agile/Scrum in tandem with Open
Space not just for technology systems application but in leadership and
management in the workplace.

I feel I have suffered a lot since being exposed to Open Space, sometimes I
still do.  The source of my suffering is that since knowing Open Space, I
cannot unknow it. I also know it has that same effect on others who
experience Open Space.  They say "ignorance is bliss"; well for me
ignorance is being unconscious and unaware and not that blissful.  Until
Open Space, it's pretty much how I led my life.  Successful and dutiful but
totally unaware of what it might feel like to "be in life", to speak up and
speak out, to choose what I would do and not do, living by the "law of 2
feet" and relishing those 5 principles as a way of life.   With Open Space
I truly started living and it knocks my socks off every day. It's like a
whole new world, an infinite world of being in the moment and beyond has
opened up...of vibrant lived experiences, of new friends around the world
(many on the OS list), of closer relationships with family and friends and
a "deep knowing" that together we can make a difference.

Now here where the continued suffering comes in. For me Open Space was not
enough in the sense that I knew the power and potential of what get's
awakened inside people when they experience Open Space, I knew that they
could not unknow it and unknow what it ignited inside of them that takes
them to their true self and I also knew the misery and solitude we often
feel when we go back to the "traditional hierarchical way of working".  We
want that regular life at work to be more like Open Space and suddenly it
becomes intolerable to be living in the command/control world.

Yes we can reopen space and keep opening space but somehow I was also
looking for simple practices and ways of working that would mirror the
spirit of Open Space in the everyday execution of our work.

I had never heard of Agile and Scrum until Orlando.  My first experience of
it was not a "head thing" of learning the practices, it was this "excited
feel" at this 3 day conference of a community... a technology community
(Tobias Mayer, Gerry Kirk, Derek Wade, Lyssa Adkins, Harold Shinsato and
others) who were so passionate and so engaged with each other, engaged
about learning, engaged about excellence in the application of their work,
and dynamically engaged in games, in improv, and a whole bunch more.  It
then dawned on me that "dah", those geeks, the trailblazing ones with whom
I had worked side by side in my career, who were independent thinkers,
doing large system change like in changing the world and connecting people
and silos, were onto something and had been onto something for quite a
while. Heck for me they were like the new leaders in the workplace, the
Zappos like folks and they could teach us a heck of a lot. Right under my
nose and I had not noticed. Move over OD and HR, let's start learning from
the geeks and have some fun.  Some of those great IT folks were applying
teamwork every day, doing THEIR thing, not always talking about it but
really doing it.

So in recent years, I started educated myself on Scrum and Agile and
Personal Kanban and started connecting with the Technology folks. I am
still in the early stages...artifacts, backlog, retrospectives, etc. etc.
There is rigor in those practices, practices which at first blush can seem
counter to the Law of 2 feet and Open Space principles and yet in the same
way that it needs rigor and true teamwork to fly a plane, go to the moon
and do brain surgery, it is a rigor that leads to accomplishment, and pride
and working and being together.  It is non-hierarchical and multi-talented
in that everyone gets to do what they are uniquely good at, taking
responsibility for doing what we say we are going to do. This too is at the
heart of Open Space.

So Dan I'm in!!  At our World Open Space, there was lots of talk and shared
learning about Agile and Scrum.  Devon Morris, a Scrum Master even invited
some of our University Millennials to attend one of his trainings for free
with his clients. They LOVED it!  Jasmina Nikolic who was at the Scrum
beyond Software Open Space in Phoenix in 2010 has been busting the gates in
higher education reform in Serbia and with other European universities
using the "combination" of Open Space and Scrum/Agile practices.

So in answer to your invitation "I am asking for help. Will you help me
socialize the idea that Open Space is essential for creating rapid and
lasting Agile adoptions?" I say yes...yes... yes with one caveat

Instead of limiting it to rapid and lasting Agile adoptions, I want to say
"rapid and lasting" transformation in the workplace shifting from our
industrial model of management and leadership to an Open Space/Agile way of
working that has the greatness of innovation and creativity, the joy of
life and the rigor of brain surgery -- the dance between chaos and order.

I have joined your Facebook group; I will be facilitating Open Space at
Agile NYC in September, Jasmina, Chuni and others (non tech folks) will be
attending and I'm also planning to go to Paris where you will be speaking
and where Jasmina will be speaking too!

At our World Open Space we had a theme... The World is Waiting... are We
Ready?  Well Dan, the world is not only waiting for a blow your socks, bust
the gates and let's get into Open Space world, but it's also waiting for
our communities to come together (Agile has been using Open Space for quite
a while and many in our Open Space community are IT folks), well I'm hoping
that a bunch of us non-tech folks start hanging out together more and more
so we can transform the workplace in ways where we will blow the sock off
of those "Gallup poll engagement numbers" and start having some fun at work
while achieving the Waveriding High Performance that Harrison keeps
inviting us too. By the way, another gang that told us THEY were ready at
WOSonOS were the Millennials.  And they've been taking to Open Space, Agile
and Scrum like ducks to water.

Phew... sorry folks this was long but that's what happens when passion and
purpose collide. Keeps you awake at night for the excitement of it all!

Suzanne

On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 1:28 AM, Harold Shinsato <harold at shinsato.com>wrote:

>  Hi Daniel,
>
> There are quite a few on this list that are either leaders in the Agile
> community or know a fair about scrum and agile.
>
> And then there are those who know very little.
>
> What has been fascinating and exciting for me has been the amount of
> synergy available between the two communities - and nothing has blown my
> socks off more than what you are describing here. I *felt* & *sensed* that
> Open Space was a critical way for organizations to move towards a much
> better adoption of agile ideas. But you've described the essential nature
> of the need here that gives words to my feeling about it. Open Space is
> *the* core ingredient for successful agile adoption.
>
> But why should the OST community care?
>
> For the sake of those that know little about Agile/Scrum/Lean in the world
> of software - perhaps this little story will convey it. I made my way to
> Texas last year for the biggest annual Agile Software conference, Agile
> 2012. It was at the Gaylord Hotel in Dallas, Texas. I was drawn to the Open
> Jam, a space the conference organizers devote every year for an Open Space
> like session area. It wasn't perfect, but it was popular and I visited
> there often. The one session I put up on the board was an "Ignite" or
> "Pecha Kucha". That would be 90 minutes of very short talks. Even though I
> put it up, I didn't show up at the start time. But when I did show up,
> there had already been about 10 talks already. One of the talks I witnessed
> was by a traditionally geeky looking gentleman who said that Agile was a
> "Liberation Theology". Those words resonated deeply with me, both as truth,
> and as humor.
>
> He didn't have to explain. I'd lived the oppression of the software world
> before Agile Software ideas. Heavy pre-planned schedules that were never
> accurate - usually involving warring specialized subgroups and a forced
> death march at the end where developers and testers would work massive
> overtime (often out of fear) in order to make unreasonable schedules that
> they had little or no part in creating. It can often seem like a dungeon,
> and the refreshing ideas of Agile often inspire religious fervor. But the
> oppression unfortunately is perhaps still the rule. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF
> ATTEMPTS TO PRACTICE AGILE/LEAN/SCRUM! But the community continues to work
> at getting people to adopt these ideas well, as opposed to badly. Dan is
> right. Open Space is a core piece that can enable it to work well.
>
> Again, why should the OST community care?
>
> Most Open Space facilitators want to make a difference and they love
> bringing that sense of engagement that can people can only choose for
> themselves when they sense the freedom (and responsibility) to do so.
>
> The way software is built, designed, and deployed continues to make deeper
> and more profound impacts on our planet. It's like the mind of the human
> race is becoming more and more tangible and even designable - because of
> how code makes the processes of our thinking visible. And makes it possible
> to consciously change and redesign it, to make it work for everyone.
>
> A deep bow to your work, Daniel. I will be seeing you in Tennessee at
> Agile 2013 in 10 days or so. This is a great time to be awake to the Spirit
> of Open Space, Agile, Scrum, Lean, and many of the profound forward shifts
> that are beginning to collaborate in an invitational way. I look forward to
> the party that we're all being invited to!
>
>     Blessings,
>     Harold
>
>
>
> On 7/25/13 10:38 AM, Daniel Mezick wrote:
>
> Good morning OST-List!****
>
> ** **
>
> I am Daniel Mezick, probably someone you never heard of.
>
>
> I’m an executive & Agile coach that seeks (and occasionally obtains) work
> in that section of the USA between NYC and Boston. I live in CT. I have a
> story to tell you…and an invitation…
>
>
> Open and Agile
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> …about 4 years ago I start experimenting with Open Space, using it inside
> public www.AgileBoston.org conference events. I study OST more. In 2010
> we at Agile Boston innovate by getting the 80-page proceeding from a large
> public OST event rendered to a PDF and shipped to all participants in less
> than 24 hours. (We employ a rapid transcription service to render the
> per-session outputs to text and images, then create a WORD doc and PDF.)**
> **
>
> ** **
>
> I actually did not know what the hell I was doing. I just knew it was a
> generally good idea to socialize Open Space in Boston. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Little do I know…****
>
> ** **
>
> In late 2010, by Googling around I discover the free-download PDF of the
> SPIRIT book by HO. Reading that changes everything for me. I realize that
> OST is really about development and transformation in organizations, NOT
> simply for public conferences and general education. (This is how the
> “Agile community” currently uses Open Space.)****
>
> ** **
>
> As a consultant to organizations, I realize that the SPIRIT book for some
> reason is completely overlooked by the Agile community, and that this book
> had the seeds of success in it. The “secret sauce”. I begin experimenting
> with bringing Open Space meetings into my Agile coaching engagements. The
> basic hypothesis is that the introduction of change (Agile in this case)
> creates alarming levels of anxiety and worry. And, that Open Space might
> actually help reduce worry and fear.****
>
> ** **
>
> From late 2010 to the present day, I begin experimenting with using Open
> Space in service to rapid and lasting Agile adoptions. By diving into this
> work with willing clients, I begin to realize the power of Open Space… with
> them. We find that we can reduce the anxiety of change via the power and
> mystery of “invitation.” I begin to study and build upon work from Ed
> Seykota (“testing for willingness”), Michael Herman (“invitation”),
> Harrison Owen (the SPIRIT book), others. ****
>
> ** **
>
> In 2011 I do a few more experiments and begin pulling ideas from cultural
> anthropology (Victor Turner), from positive psychology (Tony Hsieh’s
> application of Martin Seligman’s work) and from the art and science of game
> design (Jane McGonigal).****
>
> ** **
>
> In 2012 I write THE CULTURE GAME (www.TheCultureGame.com), a book about
> how to help your organization get smarter. At this point I have worked with
> OST in more than a few organizations. In that book I write a chapter,
> chapter 21, and give it the title “Open The Space”. That chapter contains
> several “easter eggs” which a few astute readers find and begin using. I
> start to get emails from around the world about that chapter. In that
> chapter I reference many of Harrison’s works, I disclose some of the Open
> Agile Adoption technique.  In that chapter, I specifically provide the
> link to the SPIRIT book. ****
>
> ** **
>
> By late 2012, I have confirmation of several hypotheses. The first is that
> without engagement, we have nothing. That seems very obvious, yet the
> current Agile literature has little or nothing to say about the role of
> engagement in effective Agile adoptions. Second is that there is no
> engagement without *psychological safety* sufficient *to* engage. Third,
> safety (and a general sense of well-being) is a largely a function of
> creating an “inviting structure”. By structure I mean: a clear goal, or
> purpose…and a clear set of rules…and a great, always-on feedback system and
> the big one…”opt-in participation”. ****
>
> ** **
>
> I started ranting on Twitter and on my blog about how “mandated
> collaboration” in Agile adoptions is at best misguided. How mandated
> practices may be...harmful. Remember by this point I have my experience and
> case data. I am speaking from some experience. ****
>
> ** **
>
> At first, no one seemed to hear me. But after a while, I start getting
> ReTweets a lot. And people started talking back to me from around the world
> and there is conversation. Questions. Insights. I start connecting with all
> kinds of people around this idea. Some of the ReTweets are from people with
> French names who Tweet in French AND English.
>
>
> ****
>
> So here I am with this more-than-pretty-good technique that incorporates
> Open Space. And I am kind of feeding out provocative questions about Agile
> coaching, and talking a lot about invitation, and about the futility of
> mandates…I also make some radical assertions. This goes on for a while. **
> **
>
> ** **
>
> Then I got this interesting invitation. ****
>
> ** **
>
> It’s an invite to come and *keynote* the Global Scrum  Gathering in Paris
> France in September of 2013. The invite is from some of those French people
> who ReTweet my Tweets. They tell me I can talk about absolutely anything I
> deem important, and ask me to “come and play” with them. ****
>
> ** **
>
> It takes me about 2 minutes to make up my mind. As soon as this happens, I
> know it is one of these providential-type events that becomes a defining
> moment. I gather up all my notes and start crafting the speech. I also
> immediately contact Harrison Owen, and bring all my work and notes up to
> his place in Camden to talk, and explain OAA with Open Space to him, and
> seek his guidance. That was back in early July. ****
>
> ** **
>
> And so: here we are. I’m going over there to Paris to talk about Open
> Agile Adoption with Open Space to six hundred Agile and Scrum
> practitioners. Many of them are coaches. The OAA technique incorporates
> OST, storytelling, play, and some ancient and proven tribal patterns for
> managing change, specifically the *rite of passage* pattern. ****
>
> ** **
>
> There is a list of links at the bottom of this note, so you can get a
> sense of what I am presenting. Over July and August I am planning to
> explain the whole technique to you and everyone else, holding back the case
> data and the toolkit until 9/24 in Paris, when I deliver the actual speech.
> On that day, the toolkit and all the tools become free to the world via an
> open source license and a free download. The intent is to provide a body of
> work that others can immediately use and more importantly, improve upon. *
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> We know that people are only 25 or 30 percent engaged at work. (see
> related link below.) Open Space is a profoundly useful way to double or
> even triple engagement from there. The hypothesis of Open Agile Adoption is
> that *a safe space is required for true group learning* to take root. And
> that Open Space is the primary tool for constructing that kind of place. *
> ***
>
> ** **
>
> The keynote address is designed to resonate before and after the event.
> Before the event, INFOQ.com is publishing articles, videos and interviews
> on Open Agile Adoption. During the event, the speech will be transcribed,
> videotaped and recorded by the Scrum Alliance. After the event these Scrum
> Alliance artifacts will be available to anyone in the world via the Scrum
> Alliance. Also after the event I plan to make the case data and Open Agile
> Adoption toolkit free to the world, such that anyone with “a good head and
> a good heart” can do it and do it well. ****
>
> ** **
>
> I’m taking a page from Harrison’s playbook, and from his ethos, choosing
> to make the entire body of know-how free to the world. I’m hoping that Open
> Agile Adoption (and derivatives) become the standard for implementing more
> rapid and lasting Agile adoptions…****
>
> ** **
>
> …Not everyone is likely to be happy if this comes true. The Open Space
> element has the potential to radically reduce the amount of Agile coaching
> that is actually needed to get a rapid and lasting Agile adoption. That
> reduces billable hours!****
>
> ** **
>
> Further (and of far more interest to you) is the idea that skilled OST
> Facilitators are required to execute well with the Open Agile Adoption
> technique. This has the potential to open up new demand for those here with
> deep OST skills and experience. ****
>
> ** **
>
> There is clear potential for a certain “changing of the guard” in Agile
> adoptions worldwide. There is potential for disruption...and maybe a little
> bit of chaos. ****
>
> ** **
>
> After the Paris Scrum Gathering, I plan to offer short, plain-talk
> seminars in how to do Open Agile Adoption. I do not plan to teach Open
> Space facilitation in detail, because others in this community are already
> doing this very well, and also because there is more to Open Agile Adoption
> that just Open Space. There are elements of storytelling, elements of a
> passage rite, elements of gaming, play and more. I plan to teach the
> overall OAA technique to people who want to learn it. In France in
> September, I am teaching two ½ day seminars on 9/26 and 9/28 after the
> Scrum Gathering. When I return I plan to continue teaching in the United
> States.****
>
> ** **
>
> I am asking for help. Will you help me socialize the idea that Open Space
> is essential for creating rapid and lasting Agile adoptions? ****
>
> ** **
>
> You can help in the following ways:****
>
> ** **
>
> 0/ Be playful, and help me refine and improve Open Agile Adoption with
> others****
>
> ** **
>
> 1/ Learn more about OAA via the provided links below. Then, ask me
> questions.****
>
> ** **
>
> 2/ Tell me if you offer Open Space training courses, and send me your
> info, so I can promote your course to Open Agile Adoption practitioners. If
> you are a Facilitator for hire, I want to talk to you!****
>
> ** **
>
> 3/ Examine the work, and provide feedback as I disclose  it over the next
> month.****
>
> ** **
>
> 4/ Sign up for the Facebook group Open Agile Adoption via this link:
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/204037609756665/****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> 5/ Help me get in front of Agile audiences to the extent you can. This
> year I am speaking on Open Agile Adoption with Open Space at these events
> (in date order):****
>
> 8/7/13: session, Agile2013****
>
> 9/24/13: keynote, Global Scrum Gathering, Paris****
>
> 11/6/13: keynote, Agile Tour, Quebec City Quebec CA****
>
> ** **
>
> I hope you like this story, ****
>
> and I hope you want it to continue, ****
>
> and I hope want to help write it. ****
>
> ** **
>
> I am inviting you to come and do that. Will you join me with others in
> writing the next chapter of the Open Agile Adoption story?
>
>
> I hope you will consider doing exactly that. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Kind Regards,****
>
> Daniel Mezick****
>
> www.DanielMezick.com****
>
> dan at newtechusa.net****
>
> 203 915 7248         ****
>
> ** **
>
> Related Links:****
>
> ** **
>
> GALLUP Link on (dis) engagement****
>
> *$350 billion per year in lost productivity.*
>
>
> http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/247/the-high-cost-of-disengaged-employees.aspx
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> SPIRIT Link (Harrison Owen book)****
>
> http://www.openspaceworld.com/Spirit.pdf****
>
> ** **
>
> Open Agile Adoption Link****
>
> www.OpenAgileAdoption.com****
>
> ** **
>
> Mandated Collaboration Link****
>
> http://newtechusa.net/agile/the-recipe-for-botched-agile-adoptions/****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Scrum Gathering Link (click ‘keynotes’ and then click “right arrow”…****
>
>
> http://www.scrumalliance.org/courses-events/events/global-gatherings/2013/paris-2013
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> ** **
>
> Agile2013 Link****
>
> http://www.agilequebec.ca/nouvelles/agile-tour-2013-keynote/****
>
> ** **
>
> Agile Tour Quebec City keynote Link****
>
> http://www.agilequebec.ca/nouvelles/agile-tour-2013-keynote/****
>
> ** **
>
> Open Agile Adoption Group on Facebook****
>
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/204037609756665/
>
>
> ****
> --
>
> Daniel Mezick, President
>
> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>
> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>
> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog<http://newtechusa.net/blog/>.
> Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>
> Examine my new book:  The Culture Game
> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the Agile
> Manager.
>
> Explore Agile Team Training<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/>and
> Coaching. <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>
> Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>
> Community.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>
> --
> Harold Shinsato
> harold at shinsato.com
> http://shinsato.com
> twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
>
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>

-- 
Suzanne Daigle
NuFocus Strategic Group
7159 Victoria Circle
University Park, FL 34201
FL 941-359-8877;
CT 203-722-2009
www.nufocusgroup.com
s.daigle at nufocusgroup.com
twitter @suzannedaigle
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