[OSList] Open Space and Authority
Daniel Mezick
dan at newtechusa.net
Mon Mar 31 11:47:52 PDT 2014
Peggy,
Thanks for your reply. You hit all my favorite notes here....and now you
got me going. I'm being triggered! I'm spilling my beans...
I currently believe that self-organization is actually the
high-frequency, dynamic sending and receiving of data about informal
authorization, by and between the members and the group. /
In other words, healthy self-organization in a human social system is
impossible without a continuous flow of 'authorization transactions'./
And it's a almost totally informal (mostly unconscious) process.
Certain beliefs I have about the self-organization of Agile software
teams follows from this belief. For example, I currently believe that
when the authorization to make decisions lies outside the team, that
team will not self-organize to do healthy goal-seeking. Instead they
will now self-organize around avoiding pain. In this case, there is
little (if any) flow of authorization transactions by and between the
members. We can expect a zombie-like team. A team where the spirit is
'down'.
If on the other hand the authorization to make decisions lies inside the
team, we can expect the team to self-organize around work-based
goal-seeking. In this case, there is a continuous flow of high-frequency
of authorization transactions by and between the members. We can expect
a lively team. A team where the spirit it "up".
On 3/31/14 11:00 AM, Peggy Holman wrote:
> 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
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________
> Peggy Holman
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>
> On Mar 31, 2014, at 7:06 AM, Daniel Mezick <dan at newtechusa.net
> <mailto: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
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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
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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
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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/>. 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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