[OSList] Open Space and Authority
Peggy Holman
peggy at peggyholman.com
Mon Mar 31 08:00:19 PDT 2014
Dan,
You ask great questions!
My take: like most of life, authorization is more nuanced than your statement below.
Like you, I believe everyone has 100% equivalent authorization AND they also carry the imprinting of habits, context, self-talk, existing relationships, and more that influence how they show up. Some will experience themselves as having 100% authorization, some will test that assumption, others will observe and reserve judgment, and every other flavor in between.
I have observed that with repeated use, people seem to experience an increasing sense of self-authorization. More take responsibility for what they love not just in Open Space but in life.
I know of no practice that lays the groundwork better for increasing self-authorization in social systems.
from sunny (at last) Seattle,
Peggy
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On Mar 31, 2014, at 7:06 AM, Daniel Mezick <dan at newtechusa.net> wrote:
> 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.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> OSList mailing list
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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
>>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave 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.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OSList mailing list
>>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
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>>>
>>
>
> --
> Daniel Mezick, President
> New 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.
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
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