[OSList] What's authority got to do with Open Space ?
Daniel Mezick via OSList
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
Mon Nov 30 08:39:35 PST 2015
I think it is important for all to understand that the open-source
OpenSpace Agility template contains the explicit unilateral statement of
spirit, purpose and intent... and a protective warning:
"*NOTE*: Attempting to use invitation (and specifically the inviting
Open Space meeting format) to /persuade/, /convince/, or otherwise
/influence anyone to do anything in an Agile adoption without their
explicit consent/ is /*not*/ in alignment with the spirit, purposes and
intent of the OpenSpace Agility technique.
Source link: http://openspaceagility.com/about/
On 11/30/15 11:35 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:
>
>
> On 11/30/15 10:17 AM, Blundell, Keith via OSList wrote:
>> Dear All,
>>
>> Trying to promote OS within a business world I find this discussion
>> interesting
>>
>> I can see that formally authorising the event as Daniel points out
>> brings with it a commitment to make something happen afterwards.
>>
>> What I have always struggled with is that if a meeting is booked by
>> someone in authority then the likelihood is that the invitees will
>> turn up. So the invite is not a invite - it is seen as "a meeting I
>> need to go to".
> Wait. Stop right there. Now, they MAY show up our of an implied sense
> of "or else" obligation-- REGARDLESS of how inviting the invitation is
> from authority. They may show up "popping popcorn" to watch "the
> movie" and not participate. Or they may simply show up for no reason
> at all. All of which is welcome. Because once that genie (the "jin")
> is out of the bottle...
>
>> No bad thing in itself I suppose, but I want the attendees to have a
>> passion about the theme, that "whoever comes are the right people".
>> Arguably having got them in the room, then passions maybe stirred
>> but.... In some meetings I have observed that there is good
>> attendance, but many turn up because they are curious, and then drift
>> away.
> Yea. And that is exactly how we like, the dispassionate and the
> not-responsible, vacating. Who's left in the room?
>>
>> In the end does it matter? Am I being to pedantic in my thinking?
>> Given "Whatever happens" and the law of two feet, should I be concerned?
>>
>> What do others think?
> Yes. I notice that often, when we are debating this, or that, others
> have successfully completed 4 or 5 experiments. They are now in
> possession of valuable and validate learning, while we are in
> possession of our opinions.
>
> I notice that opinions are very plentiful, perhaps because they are
> cheap to produce? Not sure.
>
> I must say, I am greatly enjoying the experiment of this post. Your
> reply is very energizing
>>
>> Keith.
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Keith Blundell*
>>
>> Leadership and Team Excellence Leader
>> Services, Samples & Quality Management (SSQ)
>> PD Clinical Operations (PDG)
>>
>> Learn more about our Leadership & Team Excellence services here
>> <https://sites.google.com/a/gene.com/pdg-leadership-and-team-development/>
>>
>> Office: +44 (0) 1707 36 6618
>> Mobile: +44 (0) 7990 777 120
>> Mail to: keith.blundell at roche.com <mailto:keith.blundell at roche.com>
>>
>> Registration Number: 100674
>>
>> The information transmitted in this message is intended only for the
>> person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain
>> confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission,
>> dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance
>> upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended
>> recipient is prohibited. If you receive this message in error, please
>> contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 30 November 2015 at 14:24, Rosa Zubizarreta via OSList
>> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Daniel, congratulations on an amazing piece!
>>
>> As you mention, "authority" is a very loaded subject...
>>
>> My understanding is that the group relations perspective, holds
>> (along with Koos!) that as adults, the ultimate authority for
>> anything ultimately comes from ourselves. WE are the ones who
>> "authorize" formal authorities -- without our own willingness to
>> continue to authorize them, their authority would disappear. Is
>> that your understanding, as well?
>>
>> AND... as you point out, things are a bit more complex than that!
>>
>> For one thing... as children... we were all helpless to one
>> degree or another, and so I would hesitate to say that we were
>> 'authorizing' our parents or whatever crazyness was happening in
>> our families of origin...
>>
>> then, as adults... our feelings of helplessness often get
>> triggered by our dysfunctional economic systems... for example,
>> in a situation where jobs are few and far between, someone might
>> well feel quite insulted at being told that they are
>> "authorizing" their boss who happens to be a bully. The person
>> who is being bullied, may not be in a position where they have an
>> easy option of changing jobs...
>>
>> (A side note... one fascinating piece of work in this regard, is
>> Michael Lerner's book "Surplus Powerlessness"... in it, he lays
>> out the perspective that by promoting the "American dream"
>> ideology of "everyone can achieve anything they want", and
>> concurrently systematically ignoring all of the many real
>> constraints to our freedom, we contribute to creating a culture
>> where people end up blaming themselves for not achieving their
>> dreams -- and thus, end up feeling MORE powerless, than if we
>> were to acknowledge the real constraints and focused on the
>> small-yet-ever-present "windows of possibility"...)
>>
>> Anyway, I would say that yes, as adults, we are the ones who
>> authorize any authorities, including both the informal
>> authorities as well as the formal authorities. To whatever degree
>> that we are uncomfortable with our own authority, we are
>> participating in the creation of a leaderless world, to our own
>> and others' detriment -- since too many people in positions of
>> formal authority are not, in fact, leaders; and to whatever
>> degree they /are/ leading, they are NOT leading us toward a world
>> that works for all.
>>
>> Conversely, to the degree that we become more comfortable with
>> our own authority, we are contributing to a more leaderful world....
>> and of course, OST is a wonderful way to bring out the leader in
>> each person, as it encourages each of us, to be the author of our
>> own experience.
>>
>> with all best wishes,
>>
>> Rosa
>>
>>
>> */Rosa Zubizarreta/*
>>
>> /meet me at my DiaPraxis website <http://diapraxis.com>
>> and on my Listening Arts blog <https://rosaz.wordpress.com/>/
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 30, 2015 at 7:05 AM, Daniel Mezick via OSList
>> <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Michael,
>>
>> Thank you for your reply. Regarding "unauthorized" or not
>> formally-authorized OST in organizations, remember, I am
>> framing the discussion inside the wider context of a typical
>> business corporation, one trying to improve by considering
>> some changes. I am not talking about any other context. OST
>> is often used for Agile retrospectives for example. I am not
>> talking about that.
>>
>> So the context for discussion I am suggesting is the context
>> of a typical business corporation, one trying to improve by
>> considering some enterprise-wide (or division-wide) changes.
>> A wide-scope change.
>>
>> Typically, these changes are a "push from authority" without
>> respect to what the people who do the work want, think or
>> feel. Many Agile frameworks (most notably "SAFe") are
>> implemented in this way. As push.
>>
>> Open Space offers a refreshing alternative to mandates,
>> "push", and formally authorized coercion. Or so it seems.
>> Since most formally authorized leaders cannot commit to the
>> so-called "risk of Open Space," the wide-scope OST usually
>> (almost) never happens. Meanwhile, everybody knows the issues
>> and that they might never see the light of day in any kind of
>> formally authorized way.
>>
>> Now, getting back your comment, yes: anyone can hold an Open
>> Space event at any time, about any thing, for any reason. At
>> issue is what happens next. Perhaps a group can meet to
>> discuss HOW to get some attention to key issues from formally
>> authorized leaders. Etc. As you yourself say, "folks knew
>> full well that formal authorization was needed and had
>> figured out ways addressing that need."
>>
>> What I'm really, really interested in is deconstructing OST
>> in authority terms, and advancing that know-how, so that it
>> can be reduced to explicit knowledge that others can access
>> quickly in service to...progress. That essay is my naive
>> attempt to actually begin the process.
>>
>>
>> Daniel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/30/15 6:26 AM, Michael M Pannwitz wrote:
>>> Dear Daniel,
>>>
>>> somehow, I dont see what has happened in almost all os
>>> gatherings I have facilitated: people deciding to act and
>>> actually going ahead with it after the gathering not being
>>> formally authorized.
>>> As this happened regularly I wondered how those
>>> self-authorized activities fared or got along with formal
>>> authorization. Eventually, I found out that folks knew full
>>> well that formal authorization was needed and had figured
>>> out ways addressing that need.
>>>
>>> I wondered about Beth. Did she and her group simply
>>> suggested something formal authority should do or was she
>>> and others involved in implementing the stuff they were
>>> interested in?
>>>
>>> Invariably, I as facilitator would intervene with some
>>> off-handed remark about "suggestions" or "recommendations"
>>> or what xyz should do pointing out that there is nothing
>>> wrong with that but ....
>>>
>>> cheers
>>> mmp
>>>
>>> On 30.11.2015 12:15, Daniel Mezick via OSList wrote:
>>>> Hi Koos,
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your comment on personal passion. There's this very
>>>> interesting paper on the various authority types (informal,
>>>> formal,
>>>> personal) which is pretty good, I am including it here if
>>>> you want to
>>>> check it out.
>>>>
>>>> I hear you when you say "I can initiate that process of
>>>> authorizing
>>>> myself by taking responsibility for my passion." This is
>>>> exactly what we
>>>> hope will happen inside company-sponsored OST events.
>>>>
>>>> Within the context of Open Space held in an organization
>>>> that wants to
>>>> explore an enterprise-wide change, we can expect the
>>>> following to be
>>>> true, if the event is to work well:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Formally Authorized Leader. A person formally and highly
>>>> authorized
>>>> by the organization sends an invite with a theme. This
>>>> "formally
>>>> authorizes" the time and space for the gathering.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Proceedings and Intent to Act- with Inclusion. That same
>>>> person
>>>> welcomes everyone on event-day, and at the opening,
>>>> encourages the
>>>> generation of proceedings, and signals that those
>>>> proceedings will be
>>>> inspected and acted upon, not just by the formally
>>>> authorized leaders
>>>> (the so-called "higher ups") but also with the new and
>>>> emerging leaders
>>>> who have identified themselves during the event ("be
>>>> prepared to be
>>>> surprised.") In other words, the people present are being
>>>> invited to
>>>> have their say, document it, and expect that these issues
>>>> are going be
>>>> input into a formally authorized and inclusive process of
>>>> deciding,
>>>> acting, and improving things.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Now, absent these two facts, how "important" is the OST
>>>> event? How much
>>>> "action" can ensue?
>>>>
>>>> 1. Formally Authorized Leader. No formally authorized
>>>> leader issuing the
>>>> invite? Or someone /without enough authorization to
>>>> matter?/ The signal
>>>> is clear: this theme (and this event) is /not important/ to
>>>> the people
>>>> who make the decisions.
>>>>
>>>> 2. Proceedings and Intent to Act- with Inclusion. Since no
>>>> one in the
>>>> room has enough formal authority to implement plans
>>>> suggested in the
>>>> proceedings, we can reasonably expect nothing whatsoever to
>>>> ensue in
>>>> formal terms after the meeting. This, because people who
>>>> /could/ do
>>>> something about it (those formally authorized by the
>>>> organization) "do
>>>> not care."
>>>>
>>>> So- the highly authorized Sponsor (or Host) is essential.
>>>> Otherwise, in
>>>> authority terms, the OST event and what happens there just
>>>> doesn't
>>>> matter from an organizational point of view. It cannot have
>>>> much of an
>>>> impact.
>>>>
>>>> Much ado about nothing?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Here's that paper I mentioned earlier:
>>>> https://www.it.uu.se/edu/course/homepage/projektDV/ht09/BART_Green_Molenkamp.pdf
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I notice that most people prefer to avoid discussing
>>>> authority. Since
>>>> our families are the first place where we encounter this
>>>> concept and
>>>> develop our relationship with it, perhaps it is true that
>>>> discussing
>>>> authority can be very triggering. Thanks for sticking your
>>>> neck out and
>>>> I certainly hope to hear back from you and others on this
>>>> thread.
>>>>
>>>> Daniel
>>>>
>>>> On 11/30/15 12:57 AM, Koos de Heer wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Daniel,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for an interesting line of thought. What I am
>>>>> thinking is
>>>>> that there is also the aspect of a person standing up and
>>>>> speaking for
>>>>> a passion that they have (be it in the form of raising a
>>>>> topic or just
>>>>> speaking in a break out session) and in that way claiming
>>>>> authority.
>>>>> In your essay, authority seems to always come from someone
>>>>> else. And
>>>>> of course authority only is there when others believe it
>>>>> to be there.
>>>>> But the initiative to bestow authority on me does not
>>>>> always come from
>>>>> others. I can also initiate that process of authorizing
>>>>> myself by
>>>>> taking responsibility for my passion.
>>>>>
>>>>> Koos
>>>>>
>>>>> *Van:*OSList
>>>>> [mailto:oslist-bounces at lists.openspacetech.org] *Namens
>>>>> *Daniel Mezick via OSList
>>>>> *V**erzonden:*maandag 30 november 2015 0:13
>>>>> *Aan:* oslist at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>>> <mailto:oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
>>>>> *Onderwerp:* [OSList] What's authority got to do with Open
>>>>> Space ?
>>>>>
>>>>> What's authority got to do with Open Space ? Apparently
>>>>> nothing at
>>>>> all, at least on the surface...
>>>>>
>>>>> Wait. Once we peek under the surface, what do we actually
>>>>> find?
>>>>>
>>>>> This completely heretical essay attempts to answer at
>>>>> least part of
>>>>> that question.
>>>>>
>>>>> The context is the use of Open Space in a large business
>>>>> enterprise,
>>>>> convened with intent to explore the potential for making a
>>>>> very big,
>>>>> very complex enterprise-wide change.
>>>>>
>>>>> {Please note, the word "authority" might trigger feelings of:
>>>>> /soul-sucking bureaucracy/, unfair and /_illegitimate
>>>>> leadership
>>>>> hierarchy_/, and the like. Some "triggered" readers may
>>>>> want to
>>>>> opt-out of continuing at this time...)
>>>>>
>>>>> Authority Distribution in Open Space:
>>>>> http://newtechusa.net/agile/authority-distribution-in-open-space/
>>>>>
>>>>> Open Space is a most interesting format for "gathering,",
>>>>> also known
>>>>> as "meeting."
>>>>>
>>>>> What exactly is going on in Open Space?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Daniel Mezick
>>>>> Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
>>>>> (203) 915 7248 <tel:%28203%29%20915%207248>. Bio.
>>>>> <http://www.DanielMezick.com/> Blog.
>>>>> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/>
>>>>> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>>>>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>>>>> Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
>>>>> Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
>>>>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>>>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Daniel Mezick
>>>> Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
>>>> (203) 915 7248 <tel:%28203%29%20915%207248>. Bio.
>>>> <http://www.DanielMezick.com/> Blog.
>>>> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/>
>>>> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
>>>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>>>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>>>> Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
>>>> Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
>>>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> OSList mailing list
>>>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>>>> OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>>>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>>>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>>>>
>>>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>>>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Daniel Mezick
>> Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
>> (203) 915 7248 <tel:%28203%29%20915%207248>. Bio.
>> <http://www.DanielMezick.com/> Blog.
>> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
>> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
>> Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
>> Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
>> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> <mailto:OSList at lists.openspacetech.org>
>> To unsubscribe send an email to
>> OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> <mailto:OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org>
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> Past archives can be viewed here:
>> http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> OSList mailing list
>> To post send emails toOSList at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To unsubscribe send an email toOSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
>> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
>> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
>> Past archives can be viewed here:http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
>
> --
> Daniel Mezick
> Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
> (203) 915 7248. Bio. <http://www.DanielMezick.com/> Blog.
> <http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
> <https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
> Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
> Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
> <http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> OSList mailing list
> To post send emails to OSList at lists.openspacetech.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to OSList-leave at lists.openspacetech.org
> To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:
> http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org
> Past archives can be viewed here: http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org
--
Daniel Mezick
Culture Strategist. Author. Keynoter.
(203) 915 7248. Bio. <http://www.DanielMezick.com/> Blog.
<http://www.NewTechUSA.net/blog/> Twitter.
<https://twitter.com/DanielMezick>
Book: The Culture Game. <http://theculturegame.com/>
Book: The OpenSpace Agility Handbook.
<http://www.amazon.com/OpenSpace-Agility-Handbook-Daniel-Mezick/dp/0984875336>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openspacetech.org/pipermail/oslist-openspacetech.org/attachments/20151130/4ee04023/attachment-0002.htm>
More information about the OSList
mailing list