[OSList] Agile Boston format for 1-day conference event

[Dan Mezick]

Harrison, 

Yes, and the connector is the clear and common theme that spans the AM and the PM. While one intent is to introduce OST, we do not present it that way. Instead we socialize it as best we can ahead of time and just do it.





Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 30, 2013, at 4:29 PM, "Harrison Owen" <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Dan – if it were me, I would describe the afternoon as an essential follow on to the morning’s activities. “In the morning we have information and challenge. And in the afternoon the challenge is yours... Where do you want to go?” Or some such.
>  
> This wouldn’t be about “introducing” or “demonstrating” Open Space (neither of which are particularly useful or effective, I find) – but rather about doing some real work. And Open Space is the chosen venue for all of that. The word to the participants would be ... “If you think it is worth while coming, come for the whole experience. Open Space is not a possible incidental. It could be the soul of the operation.” Or something...
>  
> ho
>  
> Harrison Owen
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> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Daniel Mezick
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 11:07 AM
> To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> Subject: [OSList] Agile Boston format for 1-day conference event
>  
> For the past 6 years, since 2008, we have successfully used this1-day conference event meeting design (listed below) to socialize Open Space in Greater Boston. One of the design goals is to give people a taste of OST and gently introduce them to the concept and format.
> 
> We have done 11 half-day Open Spaces with 175 or more people participating, since 2008.
> 
> The AM is what everyone thinks they want: the predictable and well-understood conference format, the usual routine, with keynote, breakouts etc. 
> 
> The PM is the canonical Open Space format as described in the Guide. We do full proceedings, because we noticed that the Guide has lots to say about these, and typical public OST events have weak proceedings... or none at all. So we experimented and innovated a little bit....
> 
> Proceedings
> 
> It includes full proceedings. We modify that a little: We have people who process the proceedings for the session conveners. This lightens the load on the session conveners and makes it more likely that even a newbie will convene a session. They remain responsible for seeing that the session proceedings gets collected. 
> 
> For smaller events, we render the PDF right there, by entering the text and pictures of the artifacts (flip chart diagrams etc) 
> For larger events, we take a picture of the filled-out forms, send them to a transcriber we have engaged, and they send back the text in real time during the event. The event ends and within 12 hours we can get the PDF into everyone's inbox. 90% of the woerk is done when the Open Space ends. Then we drink martinis. And to the rest the next day.
> 
> Multiple Exit Points
> 
> One aspect of the 1-day design is what we call "multiple opt-out exit points": people new to Open Space might NOT be comfortable with it as described in print. So we provide explicit messaging in the promo, like this:
> 
> "Open Space in the afternoon..after a great lunch..."
> "You do not have to do anything at all during the opening. You can just sit quietly and observe it."
> "...if you do like it, you can participate for awhile, and even then, leave anytime you want...."
> 
> So the thinking of new participants might be....
> 
> "...I'm going to the event to hear from the AM speakers. The lunch is free, so I stay for that..."
> "...This Open Space thing..hmm...it says I can observe the opening without having to do anything, maybe I'll do that...sit in the back....and bailout if it's not my cup of tea....if I stay, I can still play passive, and exit anytime....hmmm..."
> 
> The basic idea is to invite people into it. We do that by providing multiple opt-out exit points. Easy. We do messaging that makes it plain you can watch the opening and decide for yourself if you want to stay or go. Etc...
> 
> They usually all stay. All day. They get to the opening and once they are there, they usually go all the way. Many newbies end up convening sessions!
> 
> =========================
> Agile Boston 1-day Conference format:
> =========================
> Moving through time: AM is a traditional conference, PM is Open Space
> 
> AM: Theme X (might be stated as a statement) 
> 
> Keynote speaker (full assembly)
> Break
> Other plenaries (full assembly, shorter time length than keynote)
> Break 
> Breakout sessions (held in smaller spaces)
> 
> LUNCH
> ...setup Open Space at lunch...
> 
> PM Theme X (always stated as a question) 
> 
> Open Space opening circle
> Open Space
> Open Space closing circle
> Social/happy hour
> 
> Within 24 hrs or less:
> Proceedings out
> 
> -- 
> 
> Daniel Mezick, President
> New Technology Solutions Inc.
> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
> Bio. Blog. Twitter. 
> Examine my new book:  The Culture Game : Tools for the Agile Manager.
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