[OSList] (was) Open Space in schools - now: OST boundaries? constraints?

Mon Sep 30 10:46:40 PDT 2013

I think we get into a lot of trouble when we start to call things that humans make up "natural."  The Law and the Principles are not natural; they are human constructs.  They may have been created to mimic "natural" emergent systems of self-organizing, but they are not natural.  My two cents worth.

John

On Sep 30, 2013, at 10:42 AM, Esther Matte wrote:

> Interesting thread!
> 
> From my perspective, the law and principles are natural. However, they need to be mentioned to create the container for people to get reacquainted with that very deep nature that has been covered, constrained, forgotten after many, many layers of rules, habits and fears were created in modern society. When you don't mention the law and principles, what you get is just a huge brainstorm session without any individual or collective responsibility.
> 
> That's my two cents... and I'm looking forward to the Oct. 14 conversation about Agile.
> 
> Cheers!
> 
>  
> Esther Matte 
> Discover - Engage - Accomplish
> Nurturing Life in Organizations
> 450-955-1693
> www.esthermatte.com
> 
> Le 2013-09-30 à 13:31, Daniel Mezick a écrit :
> 
>> I request help and guidance. Will you help me understand the rule of the Open Space meeting format?
>> 
>> If the 1 law & the 4/5 principles are natural and self-evident, I am confused about the need to mention them whatsoever. 
>> 
>> If the 1 law and the 4/5 principles are not natural and not self-evident, I am confused about how mentioning them is optional.
>> 
>> The 1 "law" (quotes) and "4/5 principles" (quotes again) are either self-evident, or they are not. I wonder which is the reality.
>> 
>> See also: 
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_law
>> http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_rights
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 9/30/13 8:05 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>>> Dan – I have to agree with Lisa. As said multiple times before, the 5 principles and the Law are descriptive and not prescriptive. Or at least that is the way they popped into my head: simple observations of what was transpiring, as opposed to directions concerning what should be taking place. I have always said “Principles” and “Law” with a             smile, because if you really think about it, they are neither (principle or law). More like, “funny things that happen on the way to the future.” There is an essential humor, sense of fun in Open Space – and if we ever lose it, we begin to take things much too seriously L I call it High Play.
>>>  
>>> 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
>>> www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)
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>>>  
>>> From: oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Heft
>>> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2013 3:22 AM
>>> To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
>>> Subject: [OSList] (was) Open Space in schools - now: OST boundaries? constraints?
>>>  
>>> Dan - I have taken the liberty of adjusting the title of this topic to more closely fit the changed content.
>>>  
>>> And: I look forward to hearing how others respond…
>>>  
>>> 1/ I see the Law and Principles and *invitations* not as constraints.
>>>  
>>> 2/ And not 'required' as in - some of us do not use the 5th Principle at all. However, the saying, inviting and simple explanation of these invitations help to create the structure (as there is a structure, just not the structure that a lot of people have experienced in meetings) / to create the container. What I mean by that is that I have observed that to not offer the invitation of the principles and law (even in a group of people who completely know and do                                                           Open Space) is not inviting presence and possibility in the same way. So different dynamics then occur.
>>>  
>>> And in saying that offering these invitations and explaining this process help to create the container, I mean a living, breathing, nutrient-rich container, perhaps similar to some containers like cellular walls, a bird's nest, a lake, a poem, or a wisp of vapor… which have some form within which there is flow. 
>>>  
>>> 3/ I notice that some super-good OST facilitators can use more words to explain things, and some use less. And the experience can be amazing. In my observation, it is not the amount of words, it is the complete true understanding of inviting Opening Circle and agenda co-creation (which include a brief explanation of principles and law and process), and getting / staying out of the way so the participants can do their own work, see their own patterns, feel                                                           their own co-leadership, and so on.  
>>>  
>>> What do others think?
>>> 
>>> Lisa
>>>  
>>> On Sep 29, 2013, at 10:53 PM, Daniel Mezick <dan at newtechusa.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Lisa says:
>>> "...
>>> The other thing is that for any kind of facilitation, I would not name boundaries or constraints. It sets peoples' minds in the framework of boundaries and constraints - rather than opportunities and possibilities.
>>> Like 'think outside the box' - you are still thinking…of the box! when / because someone says that. "
>>> 
>>> Dan says:
>>> I notice that:
>>> 1/  the 1 Law and 5 Principles of OST are constraints-in-fact. Are they not?
>>> 2/ we are required to describe these as OST Facilitators; at least, according to the OST Guide. Right?
>>> 3/ the general idea for the Facilitator is, "the less said the better".  No?
>>> 
>>> I think OST is a most wonderful game. http://newtechusa.net/agile/how-games-deliver-happiness-learning/
>>> 
>>> Dan
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
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>> 
>> -- 
>> Daniel Mezick, President
>> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
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