[OSList] Open Space- A little too open for "Agile enablement" firms?

[Francois Knuchel via OSList]

Many thanks, Harold and Dan, for this video reference, and the light bulb
reference.  Great documentary.  I had never heard the term 'planned
obsolescence', though in the 60's we used to talk of the "throw-away
society".  For all the benefits and good of agile, I have sometimes wondered
whether agile itself, with it constant striving for more productivity in
code production (eg software upgrades), isn't itself a form of planned
obsolescence.  Or maybe, as you say, it's the (mis-)use of agile.  Yet
another role for Open Space to "sort out".  Thank you for sharing.  

Francois

 

From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of
Harold Shinsato via OSList
Sent: 25 July 2015 16:10
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
Subject: Re: [OSList] Open Space- A little too open for "Agile enablement"
firms?

 

Yes! I first learned about the light bulb conspiracy from Paul Wheaton (a
renowned Permaculture promoter) at an Open Space event, the one I organize
in Montana, Missoula Barcamp 2013.

Highly recommend this 2010 documentary about it - "The Light Bulb
Conspiracy: The Untold Story of Planned Obsolenscence" -
https://vimeo.com/109014324 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbbF3oxf-E> 

It is a case study of a specific planned obsolescence conspiracy, and a
successful one. But the movie is really about how it's everywhere. Planned
obsolescence is standard practice everywhere, especially in computing. And
agile is being destructively used to produce more and faster to be thrown
away - including coaching transactions.

Open Space can play a critical role in reversing this unsustainable soul
polluting trend that is consuming and destroying the planet for some
temporary profits for a small minority. And doing it in agile adoptions is a
leading edge for Open Space directly into the heart of this destructive and
recent (less than 100 year old) practice. This quote from an African in the
movie is very telling - and challenging.

"Posterity will never forgive us. Posterity will suddenly find out about the
throw away lifestyles of people in the advanced countries."

    Harold

On 7/25/15 7:31 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:

Most all Agile adoptions do not (repeat) do not begin in Open Space.
Curious, isn't it? I mean, why not? 

Something about having to explain about engagement, invitation, opt-in
participation, and self-organization to executives. 

When selling, simple is better. The less said- the better. Sell them what
they are buying! And be quiet about everything else. 

Open Space is super-efficient. It encourages self-organization. At scale. 

This efficiency reduces the number of Agile coaching & Agile consulting days
that can effectively be sold. 



When Agile adoptions start in Open Space and then periodic OST events are
scheduled periodically, something curious happens: genuine agility sprouts.
Authentic self-organization and self-management ensues, little by little...
more and more. 

Once this happens, business-as-usual (for the consultant) usually includes
vacating the premises. 

OST optimizes on transformations, not transactions. 

Perhaps OST is a little too efficient? Kind of like the original design for
the light bulb?




 
<http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2014/10/the-light-bulb-car
tel-and-planned-obsolescence.html> 'The Light Bulb Cartel and Planned
Obsolescence'


Busy day today -- a couple of quick ones for now. This is Tim Taylor:

The Light Bulb Cartel and Planned Obsolescence
<http://conversableeconomist.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-light-bulb-cartel-and-
planned.html> : The old 1951 movie "The Man in the White Suit,
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044876/> " starring Alec Guinness, is both an
entertaining adventure/comedy and a meditation on technology and planned
obsolescence. The Alec Guinness character invents a wonderful new fabric
that will never get dirty and never wear out. He sees a future where
ordinary people will save money on clothes and cleaning expenses. People
marvel at the invention at first, but soon everyone is against him: the
textile and clothing companies fear his cloth will put them out of business,
the workers in those companies fear losing their jobs, and those who do the
washing fear losing work, too. Near the end of the movie, one character
notes wryly that markets won't function if the products work too well. He
says: "What do you think happened to all the other things? The razor blade
that doesn't get blunt? The car that runs on water with a pinch of something
else?"

It's harder to come up with clear-cut real-world example of where companies
sought to reduce the quality of a product in order to boost sales. But in
the October 2014 issue of IEEE Spectrum, Markus Krajewski tells the story of
"The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy: The Phoebus cartel engineered a
shorter-lived lightbulb and gave birth to planned obsolescence.
<http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/history/the-great-lightbulb-conspiracy>
" ...

 

-- 



Daniel Mezick, President

New Technology Solutions Inc.

(203) 915 7248 (cell)

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

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

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

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







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-- 
Harold Shinsato
harold at shinsato.com
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush> 

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