[OSList] control?

[paul levy]

Well said,Harrison.

And that is why open space technology itself must never turn into something
fixed and dogmatic. Opening space for open space technology allows whatever
to emerge out of it, and even open space technology will emerge beautifully.

No fixed rules, no fixed structures (explicit or implied). Open Space
Technology 1.0. Here's to 1000.0

Paul Levy


On 24 June 2014 22:09, Harrison Owen <hhowen at verizon.net> wrote:

> Michael – Some thoughts on your thoughts...
>
>
>
> To make the observation that nobody is in control in Open Space (or
> anywhere else for that matter) is quite solid and true to my experience.
> But it is important to note that we are saying “nobody” – as in no one
> person or small group. For many, such a statement is viewed as naive,
> woo--woo, or worse. For me it is just practical good sense for a very basic
> reason. Being in control requires that you actually know what is going on –
> what you don’t know or are unaware of simply can’t be under your control.
> By definition. And the Cosmos in which we live is so enormous, complex,
> interconnected and fast moving that the vast majority of it is simply
> beyond our ken. To pretend otherwise is illusory at best, and certainly
> vaulting hubris.
>
>
>
> The fact that many people, doubtless the majority, think and act otherwise
> – does represent a problem. For us, our minority status pushes us
> preciously close to that marvelous condition called insanity – seeing
> things that nobody else can see. Personally, however I find our problem to
> be quite minor compared to the difficulties of all the “True Believers.”
> Caught up in what I can only characterize as “The Illusion of Control,”
> these folks have created  and sustain vast institutions built upon the
> model of hierarchical control which are increasingly demonstrating massive
> ineffectiveness (they can’t do what they are supposed to do) combined with
> disastrous and destructive impact on many of the poor souls who find
> themselves caught in the machine.
>
>
>
> I guess that all sounds pretty extreme, but I don’t think I am saying
> anything essentially different than Michael (“At one level these are
> people are ‘free’ to resist but at the likely cost of their job, or their
> life.”). But there is a concern here, I think which derives from how we see
> our job. If we see our role as supporting the people (which seems to be
> what Michael is saying) – there is certainly a place for what I might call
> palliative care. This is not about supporting the institution(s), or even
> “fixing” them (I suspect they are well beyond any “fix”) – but rather being
> with the people in their pain. Extended hand holding, so to speak – which
> is indeed good and useful.
>
>
>
> However, should the role be viewed either as supporting the institutions,
> and/or “fixing the people” so that they fit the institutional framework – I
> have some real discomfort. I believe our hierarchical, control oriented
> institutions are doing precisely what they were designed to do: eliminate
> surprises, control variables – producing (supposedly) efficiency,
> effectiveness, and if possible, profit. Some do it better, and some do it
> worse, but they all try. And in the process there is no small amount of
> collateral damage for all the people involved. They find their lives
> constrained, disrespected, minimalized – to the point that they would
> prefer to be just about anywhere but at work. And this is called “Making a
> living?”
>
>
>
> Yes I know – we have lots of good people, who with the best intentions in
> the world are trying to make things better. While the scope and nature of
> their efforts vary widely, all seem to involve inventing/designing a new
> system which might do a better job. We have Quality Circles, Participatory
> Management, Matrix Organizations, Agile Organizations, etc, etc, which are
> then imposed (mandated) – and strangely, regardless of the good intent, the
> experience to date is that we end up right back where we started. The names
> have changed, but the reality is the same. I think there may be a lesson
> here. The problem is not the newly designed system, but rather its
> imposition (mandate).
>
>
>
> Fair question – Alternatives? Are we left with Extended Hand Holding as
> the only useful approach? I don’t think so and I am also certain that a
> fruitful alternative WILL NOT BE designing another better, different
> system. Our experience with Open Space can be helpful.
>
>
>
> When we say that nobody is “in control” in Open Space, it is not the case
> that there are no controls. By the same token, we might describe OS as
> “non-structured” – but we would be in error, I think, to say there are no
> structures. In fact I experience massive amounts of both control and
> structure, but with a significant difference. Both are emergent and
> intrinsic – they spring forth naturally from the nascent organization as it
> emerges. I call this Appropriate Control and Structure. It is native to
> that organizational situation, and none other and therefore appropriate
> (congruent) with the people who come, the tasks they perform, and the
> environment in which it all takes place. Change any of those three and the
> structures and controls will immediately change as well. They are intrinsic
> and emergent as opposed to extrinsic and imposed. Best of all they really
> work to the point that many people are not even aware of their presence.
>
>
>
> And where does that leave us? Certainly not with a magic wand to
> immediately cure the evils of the Beast. And for sure we cannot impose the
> Open Space Model System. I am not quite sure what that would be, but I am
> convinced that it would be just as bad and ineffective as our previous
> efforts. I do believe, however, that our approach can be much more measured
> and subtle. Strange as it seems, time is on our side. And of course, if you
> run out of time, it doesn’t make much difference anyhow.
>
>
>
> Simple take: Just open space wherever, whenever, however, with whomever
> about whatever that people care about. That could be about “Doing an Open
> Space” – but more usually I think it is about inviting our fellows to claim
> their passion and move. Some will, and some won’t. The cost as Michael
> points out, can be extreme. But life by definition is risky. No risk – no
> life. Or something. But our special gift to the situation is to enable
> people to reflect on what happens. Just notice... when you gave up control
> useful things happened. It won’t happen all at once (for sure!) – but the
> Times they are a ‘changing. Someone said.
>
>
>
> ho
>
>
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>
> *From:* OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf
> Of *Michael Wood
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 24, 2014 12:23 AM
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> *Subject:* [OSList] control?
>
>
>
> In OST work we may find ourselves declaring that ‘no one is in control’.
>  I think that’s probably largely true in my own experience. I rarely feel
> like I’m in control of anything, and certainly not of anyone else.
> Realising this has been very liberating.
>
>
>
> And yet what are the full implications of this statement?  I’m supporting
> people in a large hierarchically structured organisation where a lot of
> staff feel very disempowered. In effect,  they feel ‘controlled’. How?
> Fairly simple things like if they resist the punishing demands being placed
> on them (do more with less), then their contracts will not be renewed. Or
> we might take a more dramatic example of places where people find their
> liberty curtailed at the end of a gun. They may also feel like they are
> being ‘controlled’.
>
>
>
> At one level these are people are ‘free’ to resist but at the likely cost
> of their job, or their life.
>
>
>
> So when we say ‘no-one is in control’, is the corollary of this statement
> that ‘we all have freedom and exercising that freedom might be very
> painful’?
>
>
>
> Michael Wood
>
> Perth, Western Australia
>
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>
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