[OSList] How to assess the need for an OS event.

Thu May 2 17:49:36 PDT 2013

Well yes indeed...I use the Cynefin framework for understanding these types
of problems and needs.  You can more about that here:

http://cognitive-edge.com/library/more/video/introduction-to-the-cynefin-framework/

Essentially, organizations face decisions that have multiple aspects, some
are simple or complicated taechnical problems, where the solution is going
to arise from a technical analysis of the situation and the application of
best or good practices.  And within those domains, good summative (and
formative evaluation) works very well too, because there is a lot that can
be quantified and measured with objective criteria.

The complex domain is the tricky one, because it demand emergent practice
to deal with emergent problems. For these kinds of problems, Open Space and
other methods of dialogic organizational development are very useful.  ANd
developmental evaluation is very useful too.  We run into trouble when we
confuse the decision making domains we are in and we use ndialogic methods
for building hot water systems and when we use engineering problems solving
for "fixing" racism.

When I am working with clients, we often use the Cynefin framework as a way
of making sense of the stories that people tell about where the
organization is at, and through that, when we need to create prototypes of
emergent practice, OST can be a really useful method.

Nothing is perfect, but these things get me through the world.

Chris

On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 2:33 PM, Kári Gunnarsson
<kari.gunnarsson at simnet.is>wrote:

> Hi Chris
>
> Evaluation post event is one thing, how about evaluation prior to the
> event.
>
> I'm now thinking about all the companies that are in my small city.
> Many of them have problems of different kinds. Some are simple or
> non-urgent and do not call for a real dialogs from different
> viewpoints of all experiences, other are so deep rooted in underlying
> passions with the normal symptoms of an unhealthy system.
>
> I wonder where I should start to explore surveying and measuring
> devises. I hope to introduce my clients to these testing programs, so
> that we can gather more and more data on the need to open up space,
> until he trust these findings. I can also believe in the rare occasion
> that no more space needs to open, then I will have a special award to
> give to the company. But mostly I think we will find needs that are
> not mission critical at the moment according to my clients and thus is
> not urgent to open up space right now. I am a strong believer in the
> urgency statement of Open Space Technology.
>
> Chris, have you used any such measuring tool with a client or dose
> someone here on the oslist know of such a tool?  If not, then I would
> like to develop such a tool.
>
>
>
>
> On 2 May 2013 16:21, Chris Corrigan <chris at chriscorrigan.com> wrote:
> > Paul...that is a weird tool,  Tells me nothing except that if 85% of my
> > potential value outcomes are achieved, then I will always break even on
> my
> > ROI for any meeting.  It's all just so arbitrary.
> >
> > And that is the problem.  When we use quantitative and summative methods
> for
> > evaluation of qualitative and developmental processes, we get meaningless
> > results.  In other words, how much relationship did I generate in my last
> > meeting?  12.  Whatever that means.  It makes as much sense as giving the
> > answer "lots of green ones that made me contemplative" to the question
> "how
> > much money did we make selling those ladders?"
> >
> > What we need are tools that evaluate complexity properly.  What you are
> > looking for are tools from the realm of Developmental Evaluation (grab
> the
> > book by that title by Michael Quinn Patton).  These tools, which can
> > complement summative, merit-and-worth evaluation tools, help
> organizations
> > and ncommunities to track the learning, development and effectiveness of
> > things like Open Space Technology meetings.
> >
> > Here is a place to start with DE:
> > http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g3s61_VC_2010g.html
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, May 2, 2013 at 6:49 AM, Paul Nunesdea <nunesdea at me.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Keith
> >> Although not disagreeing the least with Doug, guess that your company
> >> would be looking for some meeting ROI type of calculations.
> >> I have googled a couple of entries and this must be useful for you.
> >> http://www.fastmeetings.com.au/meeting-roi-calculator.htm
> >>
> >> Best
> >> Paul
> >>
> >> From my iPhone
> >>
> >> El 19/04/2013, a las 00:26, doug <ost at footprintsinthewind.com>
> escribió:
> >>
> >> Keith--
> >>
> >> How does one assess the value of a top-down "You shall all do this"
> >> meeting? When do you measure it? How many walking out the door thought
> it
> >> the best meeting ever? How many are still doing the required or
> >> "volunteered" activity 6 months or 6 years later? What is the purpose
> of the
> >> meeting in the first place?
> >>
> >> If six great projects come out of the OST meeting, 4 actually get
> started,
> >> and one is still accomplishing good in the organization a year later,
> was
> >> the meeting a failure?
> >>
> >> Those who want numbers as proof of something will always be
> disappointed.
> >> Because they seek disappointment.
> >>
> >>            :- Doug.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 04/18/2013 06:17 AM, Blundell, Keith wrote:
> >>
> >> Dear OS practitioners
> >>
> >>
> >> As some of you already know I have been trying to pioneer the use of OS
> >>
> >> in our agenda driven, action outcome orientated organisation.  I have
> >>
> >> had the opportunity to run several meetings, but they have been short
> >>
> >> sessions and restricted participants (in terms of organisational
> >>
> >> functional structure).
> >>
> >>
> >> This has created a bit of a buzz and I am delighted that I have been
> >>
> >> approached to run a meeting with a larger diverse group of participants
> >>
> >> (cross functional) for at least a whole day!  Brilliant and I have no
> >>
> >> concerns that it wont be successful.
> >>
> >>
> >> But...unfortunately it is viewed as an "experiment" and so I am being
> >>
> >> pushed by the sponsors as how will we assess its success.  I know that
> >>
> >> there will be some good discussions, that participants "heads" will be
> >>
> >> in a different place after the meeting, and it will be a great sharing
> >>
> >> and learning experience.  I also know that any change and actions may
> >>
> >> come long after the discussions so that the link between the event and
> >>
> >> outcome will be more tenuous.
> >>
> >>
> >> Has anyone experience and ideas for explaining the effectiveness of OS
> >>
> >> within an organisation?
> >>
> >>
> >> I look forward to hearing from you.
> >>
> >>
> >> Best Wishes,
> >>
> >>
> >> Keith.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >> *Keith Blundell*
> >>
> >>
> >> Leadership and Team Excellence Leader
> >>
> >> Innovation, Communication and Engagement (ICE)
> >>
> >> Product Development Global Operation
> >>
> >>
> >> Office:   +44 (0) 1707 36 661
> >>
> >> Mobile:  +44 (0) 7990 777 120
> >>
> >> Mail to: keith.blundell at roche.com <mailto:keith.blundell at roche.com>
> >>
> >>
> >> Registration Number: 100674
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > ---
> > CHRIS CORRIGAN
> > Facilitation - Training - Process Design
> > Open Space Technology
> >
> > Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
> > Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> >
> > Upcoming workshops
> >
> > Authentic Leadership In Action - Halifax, NS, Canada
> > Designing Strategic Change from the Inside Out
> > June 16 - 21, 2013
> >
> > Art of Hosting - Participatory Leadership and Social Collaboration
> > November 11-14, 2013, Bowen Island, BC, Canada.
> >
> > Upcoming Art of Hosting in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and San Francisco.
> > Email me for more information.
> >
> >
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>
>
> --
> Kári Gunnarsson
> kari.gunnarsson at simnet.is
> gsm: +354 8645189
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-- 
---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Facilitation - Training - Process Design
Open Space Technology

Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com

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*
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June 16 - 21, 2013
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Art of Hosting <http://aohrivendell.withtank.com/> - Participatory
Leadership and Social Collaboration
November 11-14, 2013, Bowen Island, BC, Canada.
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Email me for more information.
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