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

Fri May 3 05:58:32 PDT 2013

In reading about the Cynefin framework, I came across this article
that has a reference to the security guard story from when Harrison
Owen was working with Rockport.

http://aacu-secure.nisgroup.com/meetings/ild/documents/Symonette.MakeAssessmentWork.ALeadersFramework.pdf

"Executives at one shoe manufacturer did this by opening up the
brainstorming process for new shoe styles to the entire company. As a
result, a security guard submitted a design for a shoe that became one
of their best sellers."

On 3 May 2013 00:49, Chris Corrigan <chris at chriscorrigan.com> wrote:
> 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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>> >>
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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
>
> 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.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
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>

-- 
Kári Gunnarsson
kari.gunnarsson at simnet.is
gsm: +354 8645189