[OSList] Open Space with Agile: Failure patterns

[Harold Shinsato]

Beautiful. I think I'm in the right place.

     Harold

On 9/25/13 11:24 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
> Harold said:  "You're clearing going directly against the heart of 
> what Dan is trying to promote. Maybe I invite disaster for myself by 
> speaking an alternative view from what you are saying given your 
> founding status of this community - but perhaps given my 12+ years 
> working in the Agile space - I have something worthwhile to say."
>
> Yes you do! And Harold -- if you are waiting for disaster to strike it 
> may well come, but not from me! A long time ago I said that Open Space 
> is free (not franchised, trademarked, limited license, etc), BUT there 
> is a cost -- that we share what we are learning. For 28 years, I think 
> we have done that. And doing all that sharing is (for me) the heart 
> and soul of the OS Community. At times the conversations have been hot 
> and heavy, with multiple points of view represented. GREAT! And that 
> multiplicity of viewpoints has enabled us to go deeper and deeper into 
> our collective experience. The simple truth of the matter is that none 
> of us (and that most definitely includes me) really knows or fully 
> understands the reality of  what we are in the midst of. It is a great 
> Question -- or better -- a great Quest. And we aren't there yet, and I 
> seriously doubt that our time of arrival is anytime soon. At least I 
> hope not.
>
> Given the enormity of our experience over time and space, on into the 
> deeper and timeless spaces of the human spirit -- multiple view points 
> are not only expected, but essential. And each view point is valid, at 
> least it is the valid view of the viewer. But all are partial, and 
> therefore misleading -- one might say false.  Not unlike the blind men 
> describing the elephant, we can only depict what we experience -- but 
> somewhere in our evolving experiences lies a fuller sense of what it 
> is all about. One might hope for a final (correct) view, but I more 
> than suspect that we find ourselves in an infinite regress where 
> certainty becomes questionable... and once again we are on the edge of 
> The Question. The Quest. I wouldn't have it any other way.
>
> I understand that many people find this situation uncomfortable, even 
> frustrating. Questions are fine -- but where is the ANSWER? At times 
> this discomfort seems almost overwhelming: "Forget the Question...Give 
> me the Answer." I can fully appreciate the reaction, and yet something 
> in me just can't sit still. The given answers become momentary pauses 
> prior to deeper and juicier questions.  Answers are a resting point, 
> but there is more...
>
> For me a key word here is "evolving." Our common experience (with OS), 
> like most serious elements of life, did not (does not) come out fully 
> formed. What began with two martinis has changed, transmogrified, 
> transformed. Curiously it is always the same, but somehow deeper and 
> different. And each step along the way has its own viewpoint, special 
> words, "answers" which are correct and valid for that moment and 
> context, but always open to further evolution. A "first timer" in Open 
> Space will have a viewpoint which is totally appropriate to that time, 
> place, and person. As the experience is repeated, the viewpoint 
> seemingly expands and deepens.
>
> Many of the sticky points we have experienced over the years 
> ("Givens," "Prework," Tools," etc) got gooey because we forgot the 
> evolving nature of our conversation and mistook the validity of a 
> particular point of view for a "final answer." I would guess this has 
> been compounded by the fact that the norms of our conversations here 
> on OSLIST are quite different from the more usual situation. One might 
> presume, if we conducted our business in the same manner that other 
> groups do -- that when the Founder (that would be me) or some other 
> "elder" said something online -- that saying was The Law, Last word, 
> or "Truth." We play by different rules, and I personally assume that 
> any statement I make is just as "questionable" as any other. Truth to 
> tell, I often feel somehow cheated when there isn't some further and 
> different discussion. So yes, I say what I experience and think 
> (hopefully acknowledging the difference), presuming everybody else 
> will do the same... with charity, politeness, a smile -- and a Question.
>
> So is OST a "tool" -- just like every other group work tool? Of 
> course. But then again, it (OS) doesn't quite seem to fit. Unlike any 
> other Group Process, you don't have to do very much, if anything. 
> Indeed the less you do, the better it seems to work. Somehow it seems 
> that "everybody already knows..." Weird.
>
> Is Pre-Work essential? Definitely! But strangely some of the best 
> (deepest, effective, most moving) OS's in my experience happened 
> without a speck of Pre-Work, except for basic logistics. And some of 
> them didn't even have basic logistics. Definitely odd.
>
> Do we need to identify and consider The Givens? Certainly. If nothing 
> else, doing so keeps some folks out of trouble and makes managers 
> (sponsors) more relaxed. Still and all I've always found that when 
> something is "placed off the table," you can always find it under the 
> table, or out in the hall. Scratch my head.
>
> And Dan -- Have I struck a blow to the heart of your endeavor? I hope 
> not... 'cause I think it is GREAT, and I've told you that. Indeed a 
> basic mantra of my life is, "Open Space anywhere, about anything, with 
> anybody, as often as you can." That goes for the Agile folks, along 
> with everybody else. But when it comes to outcomes and expectations 
> maybe the real "Golden Ring" is not so much the Adoption of Agile with 
> all those great principles, practices, and approaches, good as they 
> are. Rather the Pot of Gold is genuine High Performance, real agility 
> -- done totally as a natural act. Kind of like what seems to happen in 
> just about every Open Space. Possible?
>
> Thank You Harold!
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
>
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