[OSList] What is Open Space?

Tue Jun 2 15:48:10 PDT 2015

Hi all,

Just one of my usual quick one-liners to add to Harrison's thoughts on Law of Two Feet. I went to a wonderful Open Space event here in Exeter run by Kaleider where the team had sensitively re-named this to 'The Law of Mobility'. OS is all about inclusion after all :-)

I have my own question to pose, related to this theme. What IS Open Space? 

More specifically, am I meant to DO anything when I see a person or organisation use the words 'Open Space' to name something which is, to be frank, not. I am in a tricky situation of being on the far edges of an event which keeps using this term when the actual mechanics of the thing they are planning merely hints towards the process we are all inspired to uphold. I have had brief opportunities to explain my understanding of this tool and have signposted them to useful articles (I will send your link to them now Martin, thank you). At the moment I am taking the approach of giving them due respect for figuring it out just like the rest of us!

With best wishes as always,

Amerie

On 2 Jun 2015, at 22:24, Harrison via OSList wrote:

> Well done!  I did notice, however a certain “culture specific slant” -- When it came to talking about the impact of the Law of Two Feet, you mentioned that some people might just be off for a “cup of tea.” J Of course you did redeem yourself when describing the genesis of OS in the Coffee Break! However, I might fault you for no mention of “Two Martinis.” One might think that the only thing essential for a grand Open Space is multiple libations!
>  
> Seriously – I loved what you have done. And it occasioned a thought – a notable experience in my increasingly senile condition.  We have always had a poetry contest (recently concluded). Perhaps now we should add a “Brief Essay Contest” on the subject of... “What is Open Space?”
>  
> It is certainly true that Open Space (OST) is the “same” wherever it happens on Planet Earth (Sit in a Circle, Create Bulletin Board, Open a Market Place, Go to Work). That has been true since the 4th of July,  1985 when it all “began” in Monterey, California. Since then 300,000+ groups in 146 Countries have enjoyed the experience (just a rough estimate). But each one of the millions of people who sat in all those Circles, had a unique, individual experience – informed by their place in the world, their culture, traditions, occupations... etc.
>  
> I have some friends who introduced OS to a group of Buddhist Monks in Tibet. There are some wonderful pictures which are just like “always” – but the “signs on the wall” (4 Principles and The Law) are all in Tibetan. I have similar “pictures” (in my mind) of IBM executives, Microsoft Engineers,  Boeing folks, South Africans (immediately post apartheid)... It is all the same. It is all marvelously different.
>  
> Would it not be wonderful to draw all that experience together in a series of “Brief Essays” on “What is Open Space?” Bringing it “all” together would boggle the mind. But just a sampling would be delicious...
>  
> Just a thought. And Thank you for your contribution!
>  
>  
> Harrison     
>  
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> From: OSList [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] On Behalf Of Martin Grimshaw via OSList
> Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2015 9:24 AM
> To: OSLIST
> Subject: [OSList] What is Open Space?
>  
> Hi folks
> 
> There's plenty of great material out there, and a few people have tried to write articles answering the question: What Is Open Space?
> 
> When trawling the internet though, it can be hard to find a nice neat answer, or one that fits the seeker's needs. So I decided to write a piece in the hope of helping to answer that question for those in need, while adding my own flavour to the mix and generally adding to the resources out there. It is also really important when communicating with clients to have something to refer to that tries to sum it up, and points towards further resources.
> 
> I might try to write another more succinct version sometime, but for now I hope you find this useful. Feedback very welcome, as well as suggestions for extra links in the 'further reading' bit at the end. If you like it, please share or use it to your heart's content.
> 
> http://caterfly.co.uk/what-is-open-space-post/
> 
> Warm regards
> 
> 
> Martin Grimshaw
> 07591 552420
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