[OSList] What is Open Space?

Tue Jun 2 14:24:14 PDT 2015

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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Camden, ME 04843

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Websites

www.openspaceworld.com

www.ho-image.com

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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

There's Better Ways Of Working <http://2bwow.org.uk> 
a Thriving Planet <http://ThrivingPlanet.org.uk>  project.
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<http://twitter.com/CaterflyOST> 
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