[OSList] [OSLIST}; The OST Theme...frame as a question?

[Linda Stevenson]

Well said, Eva! It may defined as a statement, i.e., theme, and you are asking what are the issues, opportunities, ideas, and challenges around that theme.
 
Helping the client come up with a theme that is broad, creative, concise, and juicy makes a compelling invitation.
 
Linda
 
 

 
From: eva at epshumaninvest.se
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:30:17 +0100
To: oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Subject: Re: [OSList] [OSLIST}; The OST Theme...frame as a question?

Hi Daniel,I use to use  both - sometimes a question, sometimes more like a statement. For example on friday i will facilitate an OS around the topic (in Swedish) "Så förverkligar vi Sveriges spårvägsplaner - Möjligheter och Utmaningar" In English it would be approx " In this way we realize Swedish tramway plans  - Issues and Opportunities" i.e more like a way to get the fantasy going on different way to come up with ideas.I think that it's not so much if its a question or a statement - more that the theme shall be challenging to the participants.my 2 cents:o)Eva
Bästa hälsningar Eva P Svensson EPS Human Invest ABCo owner Genuine Contact Group IncMedlem i Beyond Performance Group "Verksamhetsutveckling genom människor skapar långsiktigt välmående företag och organisationer" Anåsbergsvägen 22, 439 34 ONSALABesöksadress; Norra Allégatan 8, GöteborgTfn: 0300-615 05, Mobil; 0706- 89 85 50www.epshumaninvest.seSkype: eva.p.svenssonFacebook sida: EPS Human Invest ABtwitter:@EvaPSvensson
"Jag kan inte lära dig något. Allt jag kan göra är att ställa frågor till dig, och låta dig själv finna svaren." Sokrates



24 mar 2014 kl. 12.05 skrev Daniel Mezick:
  
    
  
  
    Is the OST theme always defined as a question? Is it ever offered as
    a statement? I'm not sure.

    

    I'm not sure because in the USERS GUIDE TO OPEN SPACE book from
    Harrison, the story about the theme "Fixing Arizona" is not a
    question. So, I'm guessing a non-question is OK. For the record, I
    prefer a question. And I tell clients to frame it as a question, on
    the hypothesis that questions tend open space and statements tend to
    close space...

    

    THE BRIEF USERS GUIDE
    (http://www.openspaceworld.com/users_guide.htm) is silent on the
    issue:

    
    <BEGIN>

          THE THEME -- Creation of a powerful theme statement is
        critical, for
        it will be the central mechanism for focusing discussion and
        inspiring
        participation. The theme statement, however, cannot be a
        lengthy, dry,
        recitation of goals and objectives. It must have the capacity to
        inspire
        participation by being specific enough to indicate the
        direction, while
        possessing sufficient openness to allow for the imagination of
        the group to take
        over.
There is no pat formulation for doing this, for what inspires
        one group will
        totally turn off another. One way of thinking about the theme
        statement is as
        the opening paragraph of a truly exciting story. The reader
        should have enough
        detail to know where the tale is headed and what some of the
        possible adventures
        are likely to be. But "telling all" in the beginning will make
        it
        quite unlikely that the reader will proceed. After all, who
        would read a story
        they already know?

    <END>

    

    -- 

      
      
      
      
      
      Daniel Mezick, PresidentNew Technology Solutions Inc.(203) 915 7248 (cell)Bio. Blog. Twitter. Examine my new book:  The Culture Game : Tools for the Agile Manager.Explore Agile Team Training and Coaching.Explore the Agile
            Boston Community. 
    
  

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