[OSList] The Open Agile Adoption story

Fri Jul 26 06:00:07 PDT 2013

Harrison, I guess that's why the word Technology got tagged onto Open
Space.  Prescient perhaps ?!?
Suzanne

On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 8:35 AM, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Dan – Great to see you here on OSLIST, and the story you tell is
> marvelous! And...I can’t resist telling one of my own. Something like 20
> years ago, in a conversation with a techie friend, I said that whoever in
> the software community first found and utilized the deep power of Open
> Space would totally change the game. Game on! J****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison****
>
> ** **
>
> Harrison Owen****
>
> 7808 River Falls Dr.****
>
> Potomac, MD 20854****
>
> USA****
>
> ** **
>
> 189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)****
>
> Camden, Maine 04843****
>
> ** **
>
> Phone 301-365-2093****
>
> (summer)  207-763-3261****
>
> ** **
>
> www.openspaceworld.com <http://www.openspaceworld.com%20> ****
>
> www.ho-image.com <http://www.ho-image.com%20> (Personal Website)****
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
> OSLIST Go to:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:
> oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Daniel Mezick
>
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 25, 2013 12:38 PM
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
>
> *Subject:* [OSList] The Open Agile Adoption story****
>
> ** **
>
> 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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-- 
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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