[OSList] Open Space and Authority

Daniel Mezick dan at newtechusa.net
Mon Mar 31 11:25:44 PDT 2014


Harrison, thanks for your reply and your perceptions. I'm starting to 
believe English is woefully lacking with respect to describing Open 
Space dynamics, with any kind of clarity.

On 3/31/14 10:51 AM, Harrison Owen wrote:
>
> Dan -- I think I see the source of your dilemma (stuckness). 
> "Equivalence of authorization" (or non-equivalence) is a valid 
> consideration in the traditional organization, characterized by 
> pre-determined hierarchy, authority, control, and all the rest. The 
> situation in Open Space is of a radically different sort -- where 
> those words and concepts simply don't apply. Sort of like arguing for 
> the presence/absence of 4 footed creatures in the world of centipedes. 
> I can understand how you would start down this path if you were trying 
> to "explain" the experience of Open Space (self organization) to the 
> Traditional Folks, or even more difficult, rationalize the use of Open 
> Space in a traditional model. Apples and oranges, oil and water, cats 
> and dogs ...I think. Which is why I have just given up trying to 
> explain it...Just do it.
>
> Well, of course, I do fabricate a bit... and you might legitimately 
> point to the several books I have written, which do sound something 
> like an explanation. Guilty as charged, but with extenuating 
> circumstances, I think. It is true I do try to describe/explain Open 
> Space, but always in a particular context -- the world of self 
> organizing systems. I have never tried to justify or rationalize Open 
> Space in the "standard" world view. Which truth be told, I find rather 
> delusional, but don't tell a soul. The reason is very simple; I really 
> couldn't do it. And in fact I don't think anybody can... And when they 
> make the effort, they usually find themselves stuck. Sound familiar? 
> Of course there is another alternative. Simply cut Open Space down to 
> a size that will fit -- View it (OS) as just one more tool for the 
> tool box, and you can usually get by. For a while, at least.
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
>
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> *From:*oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org 
> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *On Behalf Of *Daniel 
> Mezick
> *Sent:* Monday, March 31, 2014 10:06 AM
> *To:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
> *Subject:* Re: [OSList] Open Space and Authority
>
> 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/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
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>     <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>
>     <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>
>     Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
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>
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>     -- 
>
>     Daniel Mezick, President
>
>     New Technology Solutions Inc.
>
>     (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>
>     Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>     <http://newtechusa.net/blog/> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>. Twitter
>     <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>
>     <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>
>     Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>     Agile Manager.
>
>     Explore Agile Team Training
>     <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
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>
>     -- 
>
>     Daniel Mezick, President
>
>     New Technology Solutions Inc.
>
>     (203) 915 7248 (cell)
>
>     Bio <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/dan-mezick/>. Blog
>     <http://newtechusa.net/blog/> <http://newtechusa.net/blog/>.
>     Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>
>     <http://twitter.com/#%21/danmezick/>.
>
>     Examine my new book:The Culture Game
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/about/the-culture-game-book/>: Tools for the
>     Agile Manager.
>
>     Explore Agile Team Training
>     <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/>
>     <http://newtechusa.net/services/agile-scrum-training/> and Coaching.
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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/>
>
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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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