[OSList] Open Space and Authority

Daniel Mezick dan at newtechusa.net
Mon Mar 31 07:06:02 PDT 2014 

This is very helpful for helping me understand your thinking. Thanks for 
sending the rich detail and disclosure.

I am stuck. I continue to hold the belief that (quoting myself here...)

"Everyone...Sponsor included, has 100% equivalent authorization (100% 
equivalent "right to do work" in the Open Space) as of the moment of 
opening of the Bulletin Board and/or the opening of the Marketplace."

I wonder: if this is NOT actually true, how can the space be said to be 
truly open? I wonder who has more "right to do work" than anyone else... 
as of the opening of the Bulletin Board, and/or the opening of the 
Marketplace, in an Open Space meeting.

Maybe there is no equivalence of authorization whatsoever in Open Space, 
and I am simply barking up the wrong tree.

Daniel



On 3/31/14 9:41 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
> Dear Dan,
> as mostly, there is none or very little detailed thinking behind me 
> expressing the idea, that authority does not disappear just because an 
> os-event is taking place, and there is no levelling of authority, 
> which I assume you meant, when using the expression "equal standing".
>
> This is all observation and experience, data I have taken in. In my 
> world, thats pretty important and utterly valid even if the stuff I 
> observe might be seen completely different by other observers.
>
> Looking at myself, I have lots of authority of the kind that sort of 
> oozes out of me when standing in a circle, looking every one in the 
> eye, even if there are thousands and asking them to look around, at 
> the person to the right and to the left of them, behind them, at the 
> other side of the circcle, all the time slowly walking around the 
> circle... after I have done that twice everyone is smiling, looking, 
> focusing on each other away from me... and then my authority shifts as 
> I say nothing about open space but talk about the facts of life (the 
> principles) etc... and later I move in the authority of invisibilty 
> and presence...
>
> I am not sure what happens to the participants but I have no data that 
> would indicate them reaching equal standing as far as authority is 
> concerned or that others will ignore the different kinds and levels of 
> authority that is associated with others representing those, 
> regardless of whether just assumed or in fact fact.
>
> There have been experiential settings in which I have participated, 
> such as the desert game where the folks claiming to be authorities on 
> how to survive in a desert lead the group to certain death, or 
> Tavistock Laboratories where participants, me included, even though we 
> had all the space and freedom we wanted to take, used their various 
> authorities in intricate manners to re-create exactly the kinds of 
> organisational strutures they came from. So, authorities are simply a 
> fact of life, more or less useful, especially if adaptable in the face 
> of surprises.
>
> What I do find very interesting, is your quest investigating
> my thinking! I have pretty much given up investigating my own 
> thinking, let alone that of others. Seems to me that the only thing 
> that works for my passion to have the forces of selforganisation do 
> their thing (expanding time and space, if that is at all possible) is 
> to concentrate on the things I can somehow control: set up a circle of 
> chairs, etc.
>
> Have a great day
> mmp
>
> On 30.03.2014 16:17, Daniel Mezick wrote:
>> Michael,
>>
>> I am asking for help. May I investigate your thinking?
>> "...there is no such thing as an equal standing in authority terms."
>> Will you expose your detailed thinking behind your expression of this
>> one idea?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3/30/14 8:34 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
>>> Dear Dan and everyone,
>>> here are some bits from my experience:
>>>
>>> ---When I get a call or an email from someone asking me to facilitate
>>> an ost-event I tell them to please arrange a "contact" meeting that
>>> needs to be attended also by the person that will have the authority
>>> to say yes or no at the end (usually the person that would pay my
>>> fee). The purpose of the contact meeting is for the sponsor to find
>>> out, whether the prerequisites for an OST event are sufficiently in
>>> place. This meeting takes 60 to 90 minutes, no fee charged.
>>> This process has nothing to do with OST, its simply what is needed for
>>> any kind of intervention of any kind of man-made organisation that is
>>> embarking on such a venture.
>>>
>>> ---Participants in an OST event do not leave the authority bestowed on
>>> them in the wardrobe, there is no such thing as an equal standing in
>>> authority terms. What does happen is that folks differently bestowed
>>> with authority  will, in contrast to what they usually do, follow more
>>> freely their "passion and responsibility" which, it seems, in some way
>>> increases their non-bestowed authority... the expanded space for the
>>> forces of selforganisation, the real motor in an OST event, seems to
>>> have this effect. Everyone, all participants, fully well know the
>>> limitations that they will have to deal with "back in the asylum" when
>>> they follow their passion... and very often they are amazingly elegant
>>> and cunning in seeing their project through (responsible). That is why
>>> I encourage the folks in charge not to make any kind of promises
>>> regarding what they will do to encourage projects emerging from the
>>> ost event. Participants will get the conditions in place to see their
>>> projects through.
>>>
>>> ---Yes, again my experience, coercion, control and such do shut down
>>> open space, not completely though: I have seen the force in a dormant
>>> stage and becoming quite alive when the conditions are right
>>> (prerequisites in place)... isn't it our experience that big CONTROL
>>> seems to shut down just about anything? In OST events I have actually
>>> seen efforts of BiG control being met by counter-activity (this is
>>> sometimes the effect of facilitator intervention when a space-invader
>>> tries his stuff or, and even more effective, the "group" grappling
>>> with space invasion/attempts at control... these observations I have
>>> made when there is a really burning business issue and absolutely
>>> nobody has the foggiest idea regarding the solution, least the folks
>>> with "authority".
>>>
>>> I really impress myself with your passion, Daniel. Maybe because I
>>> also have been trying to refine my understanding, find precise
>>> language, get my hands onto, etc. what it is that happens in os-events
>>> or even in os-organisations. In my os-facilitator-career, I have
>>> increasingly given up trying to understand it and focus more on what I
>>> see happening... which has increased my faible for stories. By now, I
>>> know that stories are fact, right, my facts.
>>>
>>> Have a great Sunday,
>>> cheers
>>> mmp
>>>
>>>
>>> On 30.03.2014 13:45, Daniel Mezick wrote:
>>>> Hi Michael, Everyone,
>>>>
>>>> I'm sorry there are coercive mandates happening in Berlin, and that 
>>>> you
>>>> have to experience them.
>>>>
>>>> Regarding the Sponsor for an OST meeting,
>>>> I am saying that I believe this person must have enough formal 
>>>> authority
>>>> ("sufficient+1") to be able to actually arrange, budget and convene 
>>>> the
>>>> meeting. And that the authority that the Sponsor holds is conferred to
>>>> him or her by the organization. Is this true in OST?
>>>>
>>>> Regarding the Participants,
>>>> I am saying that I believe that after the Marketplace opens, the
>>>> intention and in fact the reality of OST is that everyone has an equal
>>>> standing in authority terms. At the start, no one person or group has
>>>> any more authorization to act than any other person, regardless of 
>>>> their
>>>> formally authorized role in the organization. Is this true in OST?
>>>>
>>>> For the record, I am not at all in favor of mandates. I am allergic to
>>>> them. I believe mandates and other forms of coercion strongly 
>>>> discourage
>>>> self-organization by the imposition of external authority over the
>>>> person or group. Self-organization is impossible in scenarios where
>>>> individuals and groups are not free to choose. Is this true in OST?
>>>>
>>>> This places out routinely EVERY SINGLE DAY in Agile adoptions. 
>>>> Formally
>>>> authorized leadership imposes Agile practices on teams while at the 
>>>> same
>>>> time encouraging teams to "self-organize". I for one have seldom if 
>>>> ever
>>>> seen it actually work that way.
>>>>
>>>> And so I have my questions about authority in Open Space.
>>>>
>>>> I'm not being cute here: I'm hoping someone can help me 
>>>> break/refine my
>>>> model of OST as it pertains to formal and informal authority, in the
>>>> Open Space. I'm trying to use more precise language to explain what I
>>>> think is going on in OST. In my view, the 1 Law and the 5 Principles
>>>> make it clear everyone has equal informal authorization in OST,
>>>> regardless of their formal title. I some ways the formal titles are
>>>> suspended, as the space is held open for inquiry and dialogue.
>>>>
>>>> This is my current belief. I asking for help in determining if this
>>>> belief is close to truth.
>>>>
>>>> Related Links:
>>>> http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-and-power/
>>>> http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-explained/
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Daniel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 3/30/14 5:23 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
>>>>> Dear Dan, Jamie and Paul,
>>>>> is there a new (5th or 6th) principle emerging?
>>>>> Such as:
>>>>> "Whoever is authorized is the right people?"
>>>>> Or
>>>>> "Whoever is mandated is the right people?"
>>>>>
>>>>> Or is there a new prerequisite for the unfolding of the forces of
>>>>> selforganisation in sight?
>>>>> In addition to the 4,5 or 6 that we are often concerned about?
>>>>> Such as:
>>>>> "High level of authorisation"
>>>>> or
>>>>> "High level of mandation" (Palines for mandate, have a look at this
>>>>> link
>>>>>> http://de.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mandation
>>>>>
>>>>> Or are these thoughts simply a manifestation of "old-paradigm",
>>>>> remnants of the realm of control?
>>>>>
>>>>> Control? Wasn't that the effort to shut down selforganisation towards
>>>>> zero?
>>>>>
>>>>> Heavy stuff for a sundrenched Sunday morning in Berlin where I and 
>>>>> the
>>>>> entire population (including dogs and cats and other pets kept in
>>>>> human housing) are suffering from having been robbed of an hours time
>>>>> by authorities that are mandated to do such stuff.
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh yes, before I forget, there was the notion that "passion and
>>>>> responsibility" is all that is needed for "authorisation" (with the
>>>>> nagging suspicion that folks driven by passion and responsibility and
>>>>> even taking action under those influences walk through the walls and
>>>>> obstacles set up by those authorized to raise them as if they were
>>>>> thin air).
>>>>>
>>>>> Greetings from Berlin
>>>>> mmp
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 29.03.2014 21:57, Daniel Mezick wrote:
>>>>>> I am asking for help. Will you help me clarify my thinking?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm wondering if 100% equivalence in authorization for all
>>>>>> participants
>>>>>> is actually a key/defining characteristic of any genuine and 
>>>>>> authentic
>>>>>> Open Space event...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> First things first. Definitions:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Authority: The right to do specific work
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Authorization: The conferring of authority
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Formal Authority: Authorization conferred from the formal 
>>>>>> organization
>>>>>> to a person. Example: "the CEO".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Informal Authority: Authorization conferred from peers, 
>>>>>> colleagues and
>>>>>> co-workers. Example: "emergent leadership".
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Now let's get into it. I currently think, and believe, that:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1. For an Open Space event inside an organization, the Sponsor must
>>>>>> occupy a role with substantial formal authorization, definitely more
>>>>>> than enough to actually authorize that OST event. The higher the 
>>>>>> level
>>>>>> of formal authorization of the Sponsor, the better it is for the 
>>>>>> event
>>>>>> overall.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. The Sponsor authorizes the participants- the "invitees"-- to meet
>>>>>> together, and do the specific work of exploring and investigating 
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> Theme. This "authorized work" is done in "authorized space"...in 
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> specific place, for a specific period of time. The Sponsor 
>>>>>> explicitly
>>>>>> authorizes all of the above and conveys this message after they 
>>>>>> stand
>>>>>> up, and before they sit down, at the opening.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2. The Facilitator is formally authorized by the Sponsor to do the
>>>>>> specific work of OST event. Absent this authorization, the 
>>>>>> Facilitator
>>>>>> has no standing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3. This is the big one: Everyone else, Sponsor included, has 100%
>>>>>> equivalent authorization (100% equivalent "right to do work") as of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> moment of opening of the Bulletin Board and/or the opening of the
>>>>>> Marketplace.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 4. As the event progresses, authorization dynamics are in play. 
>>>>>> These
>>>>>> "informal authorization" dynamics occur continuously throughout the
>>>>>> day
>>>>>> in real time, moment by moment. Those who experience net 
>>>>>> increases in
>>>>>> levels of informal authorization as of the end of the meeting have
>>>>>> membership in the "emergent leadership" group.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I am very interested in what experienced folks think about the
>>>>>> validity
>>>>>> of the assertion in (3) above.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Ex the Facilitator, does everyone else actually have 100% equivalent
>>>>>> authorization in an OST meeting? Why or why not?
>>>>>> Is this 100% equivalence of authorization actually a key/defining
>>>>>> characteristic of any genuine and authentic Open Space event?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for any insight you may be able to provide, and
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Kind Regards,
>>>>>> Daniel
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -- 
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Daniel Mezick, President
>>>>>>
>>>>>> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>>>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter
>>>>>> <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>>>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>>>>>> Agile Manager.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Explore Agile Team Training
>>>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
>>>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Explore the Agile Boston
>>>>>> <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -- 
>>>>
>>>> Daniel Mezick, President
>>>>
>>>> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>>>>
>>>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>>>>
>>>> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter
>>>> <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>>>>
>>>> Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>>>> Agile Manager.
>>>>
>>>> Explore Agile Team Training
>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
>>>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>>>>
>>>> Explore the Agile Boston
>>>> <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>> Daniel Mezick, President
>>
>> New Technology Solutions Inc.
>>
>> (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>>
>> Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter 
>> <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>>
>> Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>> <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>> Agile Manager.
>>
>> Explore Agile Team Training
>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
>> <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>
>>
>> Explore the Agile Boston 
>> <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community.
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
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>

-- 

Daniel Mezick, President

New Technology Solutions Inc.

(203) 915 7248 (cell)

Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog 
<http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.

Examine my new book:The Culture Game 
<http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the 
Agile Manager.

Explore Agile Team Training 
<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching. 
<http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-coaching/>

Explore the Agile Boston <http://newtechusa.net//user-groups/ma/>Community.

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